Oliver Messel - Costume Design for The Lady's Not for Burning
Oliver Messel - Costume Design for The Lady's Not for Burning
3158
OLIVER MESSEL
(1904-1978)
Costume Design for The Lady’s Not for Burning, 1948
Signed l.r., and inscribed u.l.: The Lady
Watercolour and bodycolour over traces of pencil
Framed
42 by 26 cm.; 16 ½ by 10 ¼ in.
(frame size 64 by 47 cm., 25 ¼ by 18 ½ in.)
Provenance:
From the Collection of Roy Astley
Born in London, Messel was the grandson of the illustrator Linley Sambourne. After Eton he studied art at the Slade School of Art and by the early 1930s had established himself as one of Britain’s principal stage designers. Initially working for the Cochran Revues, he went on to design for many theatrical, operatic, ballet and film productions. His books included Stage Designs and Costumes, 1933; Designs for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1957 and Delightful Food, 1958. He exhibited at the Leicester Galleries and Redfern Gallery and also designed interiors and gardens of the Dorchester Hotel, Flaxley Abbey, Gloucestershire and elsewhere as well as several houses and grounds in Barbados and Mustique. The Victoria & Albert Museum hold the majority of his design archives.
The Lady’s Not For Burning is a romantic comedy in verse by Christopher Fry. Set in the middle-ages, the play tells of Thomas Mendip, a soldier, who wishes to die and Jennet, who is accused as a witch and is in danger of death by burning. It was first performed at The Globe theatre in May 1949 with actors John Gielgud, Pamela Brown, Clare Bloom and Richard Burton. It ran for nine months before transferring to New York for another 151 performances.
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Costume Design for The Lady’s Not for Burning, 1948Signed l.r., and inscribed u.l.: The LadyWatercolour and bodycolour over traces of pencilFramed42 by 26 cm.; 16 ½ by 10 ¼ in.(frame size 64 by 47 cm., 25 ¼ by 18 ½ in.)Provenance:From the Collection of Roy AstleyBorn in London, Messel was the grandson of the illustrator Linley Sambourne. After Eton he studied art at the Slade School of Art and by the early 1930s had established himself as one of Britain’s principal stage designers. Initially working for the Cochran Revues, he went on to design for many theatrical, operatic, ballet and film productions. His books included Stage Designs and Costumes, 1933; Designs for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1957 and Delightful Food, 1958. He exhibited at the Leicester Galleries and Redfern Gallery and also designed interiors and gardens of the Dorchester Hotel, Flaxley Abbey, Gloucestershire and elsewhere as well as several houses and grounds in Barbados and Mustique. The Victoria & Albert Museum hold the majority of his design archives.The Lady’s Not For Burning is a romantic comedy in verse by Christopher Fry. Set in the middle-ages, the play tells of Thomas Mendip, a soldier, who wishes to die and Jennet, who is accused as a witch and is in danger of death by burning. It was first performed at The Globe theatre in May 1949 with actors John Gielgud, Pamela Brown, Clare Bloom and Richard Burton. It ran for nine months before transferring to New York for another 151 performances.){kind=link}