Nast, Thomas. [Booth and the founding members of The Players]

Folger bibliographic ID: 258944
Folger call number: ART Box N269 no.15
Folger holdings ID: 342183

General notes

Drawing is a rough sketch, with double images of some figures where erasures have ocurred. Executed on wove paper which had been glued to an acidic board (removed by Folger conservators). Formerly matted and framed, removed 11/30/84. Unsigned History: Design was executed in greater detail in pen and ink in 1890 and photographed by Napoleon Sarony (see ART File B725.4 no.41). Nast later wrote a caption which was placed around Booth and Neptune, covering the other figures. The caption read 'The Players - Booth -Our Hamlet ... A Dream Realized on a voyage through life'. This revised design was printed (see ART Vol b2 no.348) and reproduced in the N.Y. Herald, June 7, 1893, in memoriam of Edwin Booth Provenance: Item was purchased from the second sale of the collection of Thomas Nast, held by Anderson Auction Co., N.Y., March 10-13, 1908 (the first sale was held by Merwin Clayton in 1906). Drawing is listed as no.6 in the sale catalog (Cs.459) Subject: Drawing depicts Edwin Booth, seated. Neptune kneels before him, holding his triad in his right hand and presenting a shell with two infants (possibly representing comedy and tragedy, one laughs and one sheds a tear). Standing around Booth are T.B. Aldrich, Lawrence Barrett, E.C. Benedict, William Bispham, and Laurence Hutton. These men are noted as having developed the idea for The Players club, on a yachting trip on Benedict's Oneida, in the summer of 1887 (see Kimmel, Stanley. The mad Booths of Maryland, p.317-318, PN 2287 B49 K5). Identification of the figures is taken from a photo of the group, taken on the deck of the Oneida, which is labeled in pencil on verso (see ART File B725.4 no.91) This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance

Extended title: [Booth and the founding members of The Players] [Thomas Nast]

Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907 Barrett, Lawrence, 1838-1891 Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893 Hutton, Laurence, 1843-1904 Players (Club) Actors Mythological figures

artist: Nast, Thomas, 1840-1902
depiction: Aldrich, Thomas Bailey, 1836-1907
depiction: Barrett, Lawrence, 1838-1891
depiction: Booth, Edwin, 1833-1893
depiction: Hutton, Laurence, 1843-1904
depiction: Players (Club)