This hand coloured pen and ink caricature of Ivor Novello (1893-1951) dates from circa 1926 and was drawn by the artist Robert Stewart Sherriffs (1906-1960).
Ivor Novello, born David Ivor Davies, became known as a result of the song "Keep the Home Fires Burning", which he composed during World War I. A composer and actor, he appeared on the stage and in film. He wrote his musicals in the style of operetta and was one of the last major composers in this form. Amongst his most famous musicals were Glamorous Night (1935), The Dancing Years (1939), and towards the end of his career, Perchance to Dream (1945), King's Rhapsody (1949) and Gay's the Word (1951).
