Graphite and watercolour on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/george-sheringham-1937" aria-label="More by George Sheringham" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">George Sheringham</a>
Donna Clara in Duenna
Presented by Mrs George Sheringham 1938
actions: postures and motions
actor
adults
arts and entertainment
Clara, Donna
clothing and personal items
dress
fan
hat, bonnet
individuals: female
literature (not Shakespeare)
literature and fiction
named individuals
objects
people
portraits
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, ‘The Duenna’
standing
woman
work and occupations
paper unique graphite watercolour
Sketch for Donna Clara in ‘The Duenna’
support: 362 × 248 mm
Presented by Mrs George Sheringham 1938
<p><b>N04918</b> SKETCH FOR DONNA CLARA IN ‘THE DUENNA’ 1924</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Inscr. ‘G.S.’ b.r. and ‘Donna Clara (Duenna) G.S.’ below, under mount.
<br/>Pencil and wash on tracing paper, 14 1/4×9 3/4 (36·25×25).
<br/>Presented by Mrs George Sheringham 1938.</p>
<p>Nigel Playfair's production of <i>The Duenna</i> by Richard Brinsley Sheridan was first performed at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, on 23 October 1924. The artist's widow wrote (26 February 1938) that <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/sheringham-sketch-for-donna-clara-in-the-duenna-n04918" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N04918</span></a> was not intended as a costume design, which would in any case have been in colour, but rather as a ‘characterization sketch’. ‘He used to make rough characterization sketches first, and discuss them with Nigel Playfair often before the latter cast the part or he had worked out the costume.’ A scale model of the set also painted by George Sheringham, with the figure of Donna Clara centre stage, is now in the Department of Theatre Art at the V. &amp; A. (E.491–1926). Donna Clara is dressed in green, yellow and white, the details of her costume being substantially the same as those in <span>N04918</span>. Miss Isabel MacCowen took the part, and another design for Donna Clara is now in the Circulation Department of the V. &amp; A. (E.1055–1935).</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, II
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-07-20T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions actor adults arts and entertainment Clara, Donna clothing and personal items dress fan hat, bonnet individuals: female literature and fiction literature (not Shakespeare) named individuals objects people portraits Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, ‘The Duenna’ standing woman work and occupations