Charles J. Phipps
Painting
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
This watercolour is the earliest detailed view of a theatre interior designed by the noted architect Charles J. Phipps. It was executed by Phipps for J.H. Chute in 1867 and illustrates the innovative nature of his theatre interiors at this date. It incorporates a figurative panel in the deep entablature above the proscenium opening, and this and the continuation of the front of the gallery tier on a continuous horizontal line, were features of the architectural handling of both the New Theatre Royal Bristol and the Queen's Theatre, Long Acre, London, deriving from Phipps's familiarity with the Vaudeville Theatre, Paris.
Read on
The frieze at Bristol was painted by Henry Holiday, and the act-drop, representing the interior of a Roman Villa, was painted by G. Gordon with some of the figures by William Harford. Although the watercolour is not signed, it may well be by Phipps himself since he exhibited watercolours on several occasions. In 1863 he exhibited a view of his Theatre Royal, Bath, and in 1867 views by him of a number of his theatres were selected for submission to the Paris Exhibition.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- S.42-1993
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
