Toedteberg, Augustus. Portrait of Frances Alsop as Rosalind in Shakespeare's As you like it

Folger bibliographic ID: 261368
Folger call number: ART Vol. b24 no.7
Folger holdings ID: 344898
Accession Number: cs26

General notes

All the works by Toedteberg that Folger owns are theatrical portraits copied after rare prints. They are either contained in volumes which were grangerized by Toedteberg or are individual items which were purchased from the sale of Toedteberg's collection. Some of the pieces are signed by him but most are unsigned. All of them, however, at one time passed through his hands and many may have been the work of his pen. They have been grouped together in this file for that reason Artist: Toedteberg was the grangerizer of the volume which contains this portrait Full-figure of Alsop looking right, holding her hat in right hand and spear in left hand, wearing a brown coat (dressed as Gannymede). Unsigned, 14 3/4 x 9 1/2 in. (sheet) History: Portrait is copied after an engraving done for the Theatrical inquisitor, published in London by C. Chapple, June 1st, 1817. The engraving is signed on the plate, J. Partridge pinx, J. Thomson sculp. and is found as a frontispiece to the issue for May, 1817, before the article 'A biographical memoir of Mrs. Frances Alsop. Engraving is entry #4 under Alsop in Harv. cat. of dram. ports Provenance: Item is contained in an extra-illustrated volume of the Daly edition of As you like it. For volume and provenance information see entry under Toedteberg for 'Mrs. Abington as Rosalind' Subject: Frances Alsop was the daughter of Mrs. Jordan. According to the playbill on the facing page from the watercolor portrait, she played Rosalind at Covent Garden, Friday Oct. 20, 1815, with Charles Kemble playing Orlando The art collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library includes many volumes of extra illustrated books, several of which formerly belonged to the library of the theatrical manager Augustin Daly. Many of these extra-illustrated volumes were inlaid and organized by Augustus Toedteberg, a professional inlayer and repairer of prints who resided in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the 1870's to 1890's The known facts concerning Toedteberg are few. He was the grangerizer of the Daly copy of Joseph Norton Ireland's Records of the New York stage (a work extended by him from 2 to 33 volumes) and of Daly's souvenir books of his Shakespearean productions (many of which are now in the Folger collection). Toedteberg also published a work, in 1893, entitled Portraits of actors reproduced from rare originals for Augustus Toedteberg. The Folger Library has a few letters in its ms. collection addressed from Toedteberg to Augustin Daly concerning Toedteberg's grangerizing work. His theatrical collection, which consisted of numerous books, prints, drawings, autographs and playbills, was sold at auction by the Anderson Co., New York, 1903-1904 The volumes which Toedteberg grangerized also contain a number of watercolor portraits, copied after rare prints, which are signed by a Victor Moblard who may have been under the employ of Toedteberg. Moblard's style of painting and writing is rather distinct and even where he has not signed his name it is easy to spot his work, In cases where his signature or initials appear, or where the style gives evidence of his work, the item has been entered under his name. In all cases, where known, a subject entry has been given for the original artist of the print from which Moblard was copying. No biographical information has been located on Moblard. The user is referred to records under Moblard, Victor, for additional works from the Toedteberg shop This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance Toedteberg's collection of theatrical prints was extensive and it is assumed that he drew on this collection as a resource for his grangerizing endeavors. It appears that he was in the habit of copying, in ink or watercolor, rare prints, or having rare prints copied by others, perhaps when he was able to obtain only one copy of the original print

Extended title: Portrait of Frances Alsop as Rosalind in Shakespeare's As you like it [Augustus Toedteberg]

Alsop, Frances, -1821 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. As you like it Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Rosalind (Fictitious character) Actors

artist: Toedteberg, Augustus, 1823 or 1824-1909
depiction: Alsop, Frances, -1821
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
former owner: Daly, Augustin, 1838-1899
artist: Partridge, John, 1790-1872