Drawing

Pen and ink drawing entitled 'Drama', showing a selection of famous figures from Victorian theatre. At the centre are full length images of the actor/managers Sir Henry Irving and Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. Irving is represented as Dante and Tree as Virgil. The figures are hovering above a stormy sea containing six caricatured bathers representing some of the tribulations of theatre managers, identified as 'Attendants' fees', the 'Titled Amateur', 'Unsigned Criticism', 'L.C.C.', 'Pirated Plays' and the 'Weary Pit-ite'. The image is surrounded by sketches of fellow performers, including Dame Ellen Terry (1847-1928), in her costume as Portia. The artist, Charles Richardson, has included his name at the base.