Plaque

15 September 1896 · Plaque · 47 × 37 cm

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Victoria and Albert Museum

London, United Kingdom

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 7 days ago
In this state since: Sep 25, 2026
Source: The museum's own collection data

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About the sculpture

Sir Henry Irving (1838-1905) was one of Britain's great actor-managers, a man who dedicated his life to the theatre and especially London's Lyceum Theatre where he produced and starred in some of the most spectacular productions of Shakespeare and contemporary drama that the British theatre had witnessed. This plaque is dated 1896, the year after Irving received a Knighthood. The honour was a personal triumph for Irving and a long-overdue recognition by the Establishment of the art of acting since he was the first actor ever to be awarded a Knighthood.

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Irving was born in Cornwall and spent fifteen years acting in repertory from 1856 until 1871, when he made his name at the Lyceum Theatre in The Bell. In his years in repertory he played over 600 different roles, and for the next 31 years he starred at the Lyceum, holding audiences spellbound, and setting new standards of production and performance that made his name legendary. His most notable leading lady at the Lyceum was Ellen Terry, with whom his name will always be associated.

Victoria and Albert Museum