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Sir John Martin-Harvey

(1863-1944), Actor and theatre manager

Sitter in 32 portraits
Actor and theatre manager. A chance visit to a London theatre while he was apprenticed to his father's shipwright business persuaded Harvey to train as an actor. He joined Irving's Lyceum Theatre in 1882 and stayed for fourteen years. After a period as a freelance actor, he ventured into management in February 1899 with The Only Way, an adaptation of Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities that proved a phenomenal success, registering over 5000 performances over forty years and guaranteeing Harvey's financial security. Although costumed romance and melodrama were the bedrock of Harvey's repertoire, he also produced Shakespeare, a revolutionary production of Oedipus Rex, and contemporary plays by writers such as Maeterlinck.

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Sir John Martin-Harvey, by Richard George Mathews - NPG 6732

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by Richard George Mathews
charcoal and pastel, 1908
NPG 6732

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by Charles Buchel (Karl August Büchel) - NPG 4694

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by Charles Buchel (Karl August Büchel)
chalk, 1918
NPG 4694

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way', by Alfred Ellis & Walery, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x160510

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way'

by Alfred Ellis & Walery, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1899
NPG x160510

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way', by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x160511

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way'

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1899
NPG x160511

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way', by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG x197366

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way'

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen cabinet card, 1899
NPG x197366

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way', by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG x196976

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Sydney Carton in 'The Only Way'

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen cabinet card, 1899
NPG x196976

Sir John Martin-Harvey, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x21225

Sir John Martin-Harvey

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x21225

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by G.C., published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x160506

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by G.C., published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x160506

Mr & Mrs Martin-Harvey & Family, published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x160507

Mr & Mrs Martin-Harvey & Family

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x160507

Sir John Martin-Harvey and his dog, by Unknown photographer - NPG x160508

Sir John Martin-Harvey and his dog

by Unknown photographer
matte bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x160508

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by Carl Vandyk, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x160513

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by Carl Vandyk, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x160513

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company - NPG x197427

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen cabinet card, circa 1900
NPG x197427

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x196362

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x196362

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by Bassano Ltd, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x196261

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by Bassano Ltd, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x196261

Sir John Martin-Harvey, by Art Photogravure Co Ltd, after  (Walter William) Guy Hughes, for  Histed & Co - NPG x21224

Sir John Martin-Harvey

by Art Photogravure Co Ltd, after (Walter William) Guy Hughes, for Histed & Co
photogravure, 1901
NPG x21224

Sir John Martin-Harvey in 'After All', by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x160512

Sir John Martin-Harvey in 'After All'

by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, mid 1900s
NPG x160512

'Mr. & Mrs. Martin Harvey & Family', by Alfred Ellis & Walery, published by  The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x197788

'Mr. & Mrs. Martin Harvey & Family'

by Alfred Ellis & Walery, published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, late 1900s
NPG x197788

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Pelleas in 'Pelleas and Melisande', by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by  Rapid Photo Co - NPG x196363

Sir John Martin-Harvey as Pelleas in 'Pelleas and Melisande'

by Lizzie Caswall Smith, published by Rapid Photo Co
bromide postcard print, 1911
NPG x196363

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