Sujet

Ira Aldridge in the Role of Shakespeare's Othello, c1826. Creator: William Mulready.

Légende

Ira Aldridge in the Role of Shakespeare's Othello, c1826. The subject of this work shows a marked resemblance to the famous African-American actor Ira Aldridge (1807-1867), praised as one of the greatest tragic actors of his day, he won renown in Europe for his Shakespearean roles, including Lear, Macbeth and, most famously, Othello. On October 10, 1825, Aldridge made his European debut, making him the first African American actor to establish himself professionally in a foreign country (at London's Royal Coburg Theatre). The following year he played Othello. By the time of his death in 1867 he had won awards and medals all over Europe, having played in Berlin, Brussels, Paris, Frankfurt, Cologne, Bonn, Budapest and the major cities of Russia. An innovation Aldridge introduced early in his career was a direct address to the audience on the closing night of his engagement at a given theatre. Especially in the years leading up to the emancipation of enslaved people in British colonies (by act of 1833) he would speak of the injustice of enslavement and the passionate desire for freedom of those held in bondage.

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art

Notre référence

HRM23B22_203

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

52,1Mo (2,0Mo) / 31,1cm x 42,0cm / 3672 x 4960 (300dpi)

Mots clés

portrait people black looking man men arts painting country play entertainment art guy costume romantic British museum color dress drama armour war location century Britain literature concept actors acting African American African-American APPAREL one person romanticism afro-american actor looking away warfare oil Painting United States of America Colour 19th century Thespian abolitionist breastplate nineteenth century Othello American America USA 1820s abolition anti-slavery Moor of Venice Shakespearean Shakespearian chest plate portrait oil united states William Shakespeare Shakespeare William oil on panel The Moor of Venice Romantic Era Walters Art Museum William Mulready Mulready William Heritage Art oil on panel Shakspeare Ira Ira Frederick Aldridge Aldridge Ira Frederick Ira Aldridge 19th-century clothing & dress fashion & clothing The Tragedy of Othello