drawing;
print study
- Museum number
- K,58.123
- Description
-
Portrait of Ann Catley in the character of Polly, from John Gay's 'The Beggar's Opera', study for Bell's British Theatre; whole-length, standing three-quarters to right and looking to front, arms crossed in front of her, closed fan in her left hand, wearing pink panniered dress with bunched, open overskirt and broad trim decorated with roses, a sprig of roses at her bosom; hair worn high with fringe and curls to her shoulders, and cap decorated with trailing ribbons.
Pen and ink with watercolour on vellum backed with pasteboard
- Production date
- 1768-1793 (c.)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 102 millimetres
-
Width: 73 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- According to Burnim and Highfill, this design was not engraved for Bell's British Theatre, though clearly designed as such; the frontispiece to the 1776 and 1780 Bell's editions of 'The Beggar's Opera' showed Vernon as Macheath, in the 1797 edition, Mrs Crouch as Polly. A drawing by Roberts referred to as 'Miss Cately as Polly', for 'The Beggar's Opera', was included in the sale of Bell's collection at Christie's on 27th March 1793. The actress had first acted the part at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, on 23rd December 1763, and at Covent Garden Theatre on 13th October 1772. See also K,58.127, a mezzotint bust portrait after Roberts by Jones, which much resembles this design.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated titles
-
Associated Title: The Beggar's Opera
-
Associated Title: Bell's British Theatre
- Acquisition date
- 1818
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- K,58.123
