Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
(1839-1921), Actress and theatre manager; wife of Sir Squire BancroftLater Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 31 portraits
Actress and theatrical manager. Marie Effie Wilton was a performer from early childhood. First seen on the London stage in 1856 at the Lyceum where her talent for burlesque brought her wide acclaim; Charles Dickens described her as one of 'the cleverest girls I have ever seen on the stage'. With her husband Squire Bancroft (who she married in 1867) she became joint actor-manager of the Prince of Wales Theatre, where successes included Dion Boucicault's comedy London Assurance (1877). The company set new standards of production and raised the status of the acting profession. In 1880 they rebuilt the Haymarket Theatre introducing the first use of electric light on the English stage in Man and Wife.
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Herbert Watkins
albumen print, arched top, September 1856
NPG P301(70)
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Herbert Watkins
albumen print, arched top, late 1850s
NPG P301(68)
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Herbert Watkins
albumen print, arched top, late 1850s
NPG P301(69)
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Thomas Jones Barker
oil on canvas, circa 1870s-1882
NPG 2122
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Gladwell
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1850s-early 1860s
NPG x210
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Heath & Beau
albumen carte-de-visite, 1861-1863
NPG x209
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft as Aladdin in 'Aladdin'
by Alfred Henry Wall, published by Thomas Hailes Lacy
albumen carte-de-visite, 1861
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x211
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by William Walker & Sons
albumen carte-de-visite, 1862-1866
NPG x197064
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Elliott & Fry
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG x208
by Window & Grove
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874
NPG x131009
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Window & Grove
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1874
NPG Ax18187
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Window & Grove
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1874
NPG Ax28484
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Window & Grove
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1874
NPG x212
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft as Lady Teazle in 'The School for Scandal'
by Window & Grove
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874
NPG x76631
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Lock & Whitfield, published by Hardwicke & Bogue
woodburytype, published 1879 (circa 1875)
NPG Ax45745
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype, circa 1875
NPG Ax7686
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype on programme page, published 10 July 1875
NPG x132951
after Lock & Whitfield, and Unknown photographers
woodburytype, published 1875
NPG x135885
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft
by Unknown photographer
albumen print, circa 1878
NPG x213
Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft; Sir Squire Bancroft (né Butterfield)
by Herbert Rose Barraud, published by Carson & Comerford
woodburytype, published 1 July 1885
NPG Ax29219
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