Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier
1 portrait of Laurence Olivier
© estate of James Abbe, Jr
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Vivien Leigh; Laurence Olivier
by James Abbe Jr
toned vintage bromide print, 1939
11 5/8 in. x 9 1/2 in. (294 mm x 240 mm)
Given by Kathryn Abbe, 2001
Photographs Collection
NPG x88923
On display in Room 27 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
Sittersback to top
- Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), Actress. Sitter associated with 147 portraits.
- Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (1907-1989), Actor, producer and director. Sitter in 114 portraits.
Artistback to top
- James Abbe Jr (1912-1999), Photographer; son of James Abbe. Artist or producer of 1 portrait.
This portraitback to top
Leigh was in the middle of shooting scene retakes when Abbe Jr (the son of James Abbe) who worked as a fashion and portrait photographer for magazines in the late 1930/40s was commissioned to photograph her on set for the September 1939 issue of Ladies' Home Journal. This photograph was taken when Olivier came to meet her at the studio.
Events of 1939back to top
Current affairs
Britain goes to war. The German invasion of Poland demonstrated that the policy of appeasement had failed. After refusing to meet Britain's ultimatum to withdraw troops, Britain and France declared war on Germany. The Second World War had begun.Art and science
The Sutton Hoo burial ship is discovered. Apparently following a dream, Mrs Pretty invited the archaeologist Basil Brown to investigate a series of burial mounds on her estate on the banks of the river Deben in Suffolk. The excavation revealed an Anglo-Saxon burial, uncovering the most significant horde of early medieval artefacts found in Britain (now housed at the British Museum).International
The Second World War begins. Germany's invasion of Poland prompted Britain and France to declare war forming the core of the Allied powers. As part of the Soviet-Nazi Pact, the Soviet Union joined the war on the German side, helping, with Italy, to form the Axis Powers. Poland was soon overpowered and the Baltic Republics and Finland were invaded by the Soviet Union.Comments back to top
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