ANON. Victorian watercolour portraits in album. 24 portraits, each approx 22.5 cm x 13.2 cm in an album with black leather spine and pebble grained black cloth. The spine repaired, new endpapers, and the watercolour leaves resewn and recased in the original boards. Elastic fastening replaced.The album has a member’s club/ billiards theme, but also largely reflects popular culture of the times. The artist almost certainly male , and most of the subjects male, as follows;
1) Soldiers playing billiards, the caption in French, with two women spectators and a “Bouldogue”( bulldog) . Two of the soldiers are “ Officiers Distingués)
2) A gentleman plays a piano, with the caption “ La Caprera” a “Chanson Neapolitaine” by George Forbes of 1864.
3) “ A Pleasure Party”. A man and three women in front of a poster showing cheap trains from Waterloo to Bournemouth. All the party look miserable.
4) “Othello. Mr Phelps”. The actor Samuel Phelps as Othello. An interesting controversy surrounded Phelps and his Shakespearean roles.
5) “ Babil & Bijou. M. Espi Nosa” The play Babil & Bijou by Dion Boucicault was intended to be the greatest spectacle ever seen on the stage. M. Espinosa pictured wearing acrobatic clothing.
6) Henry Irving as Hamlet “ Lyceum” 1874
7) “The Crimea” “A Hero at Peace”. This is possibly a portrait of Field Marshall Sir Colin Campbell of “ thin red line “ fame.
8) “G. A.MacD” A a bearded gentleman stands by a chess board with the caption showing a chess Knight and “ Clericus”.
9) “ S. Andrews” “ Painting, Music Golf, Billiards. A white haired gentleman, seated, with palette, brushes .
10) “ Clarke”shown holding what might be a magic lantern under a cover. The first Biunial magic lantern, capable of showing one view dissolving into another was invented by optician Mr Clarke, and was presented at the Royal Adelaide Gallery in London in 1840.
11) “ W.M.A. Late of the Oriental’ A gentleman stands holding an umbrella, and wearing a top hat.
12) “ The Reverend W.T.S. “ with AKC. A clergyman stands holding a cane and his hat.
13) “ Indian Mutiny” A gentleman stands holding a billiard cue. “ W RC” monogram.
14) “ Science from the Foundling” A gentleman stand with a billiard cue”. Possibly referring to the Foundling Hospital charity.
15) “ D.A.A.G Capt.L.D.Portsmouth 1875 . A military officer with sword in uniform standing under the caption “ XV York East Riding”.
16) “A Careful Player” “ From the committee 1875” A portly gent. stands holding a billiard cue. A well executed portrait.
17) “W.E.G” “All Saints Margaret Street Palm Sunday 1875”. A seated portrait of William Ewart Gladstone , prime minister for 12 years.
18) “ Capt. F.H.” R.A “ [ Royal Artillery] A man stands, smoking, with billiard cue.
19) “Members Only”. Late House Committee H.B. Lillie Bridge Skating Club 1875.
20) “ A popular Waltzer & Martyr” A red haired gentleman wearing a monocle.
21) “ Monday Pops” The Director. Samuel Arthur Chappell devised the idea of Monday Popular concerts at St. James’s Hall, Regent Street London. Monogram “ SAC” Chappell stands holding opera glasses.
22) A gent stands with a cane.
23) “Dear Lord D****y won his money on the DERBY But he dropped it on the OAKS” Galopin Claremont Lady Love. A top hatted gent stands with pencil and race card (?) in hand.
24) A pianist sits at a piano.
