Sir Alfred Gilbert British, 1854-1934
Conceived and cast circa 1890
Incorporating a silver bee on the leg
Bronze with rich dark brown patina
Further images
Abbé Dubois: Tragedy!
De La Ferté: Comedy!
Doctor Choquart: Gentlemen, let us benefit by this difference of opinion. Let us say comedy first, and tragedy afterwards.’
W.S.Gilbert, Comedy and Tragedy, first performed at the Lyceum Theatre (London) on 26th January 1884
The present piece was the first ever independent bronze figure Gilbert set out to create after producing An Offering to Hymen in 1886. The artist regarded it as 'the climax' of his 'cycle of stories' - the last chapter of his trilogy of self-portraits, which includes Perseus Arming (1881) and Icarus (1884).
The work is reflective of Gilbert's mind in the early 1890s. By this point, Gilbert was a well-known sculptor with Royal patronage and a seemingly impeccable career ahead of him. Yet, in his private life he was struggling; mounting debts, problems with his patrons and a sick wife had left the artist in a state of anxiety and depression. The artist was likely further inspired to produce this sculpture after he attending the play 'Comedy and Tragedy' by William Gilbert, which was staged at the Lyceum Theatre in London in the 1880s and where his friend, the American actress Mary Anderson, played the lead role.
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Provenance
The Fine Art Society, LondonAcquired by Major Ion Harrison from the above on the 25 March 1926 for £82-10 shillings