Lancaster, Osbert. I think it's a member of the House of Lords protesting against the demolition of Vivien

Folger bibliographic ID: 352785
Folger call number: ART 270- 182
Folger holdings ID: 501340
Accession Number: 270182

Cartoon of Lavinia and Aaron during a performance of the play Titus Andronicus. Lavinia and Aaron look on in surprise from the stage as a member of the audience, a man with a bristling mustache and monocle, dressed in a tuxedo, stands up, right hand raised in objection and mouth open to shout. Caption: I think it's a member of the House of Lords protesting against the demolition of Vivien. In-image caption: Titus Andronicus, Act I sc. 2 O.P No I. Signed: Osbert L. '57

General notes

Vivien Leigh played Lavinia in a production of Titus Andronicus at the Stoll Theatre (London, England) for two months in the summer of 1957. On July 11, 1957, Leigh had interrupted a debate over the fate of the St. James's Theatre in the House of Lords by standing up and stating, "My lords, I wish to protest against the St James's Theatre being demolished," while a guest of MP Sir Brian Horrocks, at the time the "Black Rod" of the House of Lords. Leigh and her husband, Laurence Olivier, had owned and operated the St. James's Theatre since 1950. Her protest was part of a nationwide campaign to save the theatre, which was ultimately unsuccessful

Item information about Folger ART 270- 182

Gilt frame. Acquired from Bernard Quartich Ltd., "Vivien: The Vivien Leigh Collection" Sothebys Sale L17148, Lot 227, 26 September 2017, London

Leigh, Vivien, 1913-1967 Lavinia (Fictitious character : Shakespeare) Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Aaron (Fictitious character : Shakespeare) Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Titus Andronicus Great Britain. Parliament Legislators

artist: Lancaster, Osbert, 1908-1986
depiction: Leigh, Vivien, 1913-1967
depiction: Lavinia (Fictitious character : Shakespeare)
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
depiction: Aaron (Fictitious character : Shakespeare)
subject: Great Britain. Parliament
former owner: Leigh, Vivien, 1913-1967