An actor poses as a classical sculpture of a gladiator. Photographic postcard, 190-.

Date:
[between 1900 and 1909?]
Reference:
2046160i
Part of:
Rotary photographic series
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view An actor poses as a classical sculpture of a gladiator. Photographic postcard, 190-.

Public Domain Mark

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Credit

An actor poses as a classical sculpture of a gladiator. Photographic postcard, 190-. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Description

Photograph of a man stood on a small plinth holding a sword and raising one hand. He is wearing white make-up on his face and body, a loin cloth and a Roman centurion's helmet.

Publication/Creation

[England] : Rotary photo E.C., [between 1900 and 1909?]

Physical description

1 photographic postcard ; 13.7 x 8.8 cm.

Lettering

"Ready for the fight". The Seldoms at the London Pavilion. Bears number: 4613

Notes

This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer.
The following description was provided by James Gardiner: "Nudity clothed as 'Art'. The 'Pose Plastique' originated in the French court of the eighteenth century, when as a form of entertainment known as known as 'Tableau Vivant' players posed as works of art, without moving. The group illustrated on the catalogued photograph, 'The Seldoms', were a British music-hall turn in the years before World War I, re-enacting scenes from classical and mythological sources, and exploring the full erotic potential of this form of early performance art."

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2046160i

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Where to find it

  • Unlabelled photograph album

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    Closed stores

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