Sir William Schwenck Gilbert

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• Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836-1911), Poet, dramatist and librettist of the 'Savoy' operas. Sitter associated with 10 portraits.

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• Elliott & Fry (active 1863-1962). Artist associated with 10763 portraits, Sitter in 1 portrait.

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This photograph was taken during his year of estrangement from Sullivan following the so-called 'carpet quarrel' of 1890, when Gilbert took D'Oyly Carte to court for financial mismanagement and Sullivan sided with Carte. Gilbert was quick to anger. When knighted in 1907, he was furious about being described as a playwright instead of a dramatist. He spent his retirement in his country estate, Grim's Dyke. He drowned aged seventy-four having dived into his lake to assist a distressed swimmer. His memorial on the Victoria Embankment contains the epitaph: 'His foe was folly and his weapon wit.'

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• Elliott & Fry exhibition prints, 1863-1930