Mr T.P.Cook as Publius

Uncoloured theatrical souvenir portrait plate printed with an engraving of the actor Mr T.P.Cooke in the role of Publius from the play Horatii and Guriatii as performed at the Coburg Theatre. Published January 10th 1820 the engraving is signed ' Drawn and etchd by J.Findlay 1820'. Such portraits would have been sold plain as theatrical souvenirs for colouring and tinselling at home.

Cooke was a sailor as a boy, before taking to the stage. He performed a range of roles before he became well known and liked for nautical heroes and supernatural villains. This print, from 1820, shows Cooke a few months before he became one of the most successful actors of his generation.