Sir William Schwenck Gilbert
(1836-1911), Poet, dramatist and librettist of the 'Savoy' operasSitter associated with 13 portraits
Gilbert's military ambitions were frustrated by the end of the Crimean War in 1856 and, having been called to the bar in 1863, he experienced little success as a lawyer and abandoned it for literature. His mastery of witty humour and satire was honed during the 1860s by his contributions to Fun magazine. He wrote numerous plays, sketches and stories. His name is irrevocably linked with Sir Arthur Sullivan, for whose music he wrote the libretti of the 'Savoy' operas, among them HMS Pinafore, 1878, Iolanthe, 1882, The Mikado, 1885, and The Yeoman of the Guard, 1888. He built the Garrick Theatre with the profits from his plays.
by Harry Furniss
pen and ink, 1880s-1900s
NPG 3452
by Harry Furniss
pen and ink, 1880s-1900s
NPG 3453
by Harry Furniss
pen and ink, 1880s-1900s
NPG 3574
by Frank Holl
oil on canvas, 1886
NPG 2911
by Walery, published by Sampson Low & Co
carbon print, published April 1889
NPG Ax9127
by Herbert Rose Barraud, published by Eglington & Co
carbon print, published 1890
NPG Ax5508
by Unknown photographer, copied by Walter Stoneman
whole-plate glass copy negative, copied April 1948 (1890s)
NPG x188193
Members of the cast of 'Iolanthe' and others
by and after Elliott & Fry
bromide print, 1890s
NPG Ax139921
by Elliott & Fry
chlorobromide print on cream card mount, 1891
NPG x127431
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert ('Classical Comedy')
published by Frederick Arnold, after Unknown artist
lithograph, published in the Hornet 22 January 1873
NPG D48325
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert ('Men of the Day. No. 244.')
by Sir Leslie Ward
chromolithograph, published in Vanity Fair 21 May 1881
NPG D44013
by Walery, published by Sampson Low & Co
carbon print, published April 1889
NPG x9128
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