Printed Ephemera — 1838-10-18
Van Amburgh, the Brute Tamer of Pompeii
Theatrical portrait print engraved with an image of Van Amburgh in the role of the 'Brute Tamer of Pompeii'. Published October 18th 1838 and headed as 'Marks's New Portrait'. Such prints would have been sold plain as theatrical souvenirs for colouring and tinselling at home. This print has not been hand coloured.
Van Amburgh was an early lion tamer, and is usually credited with being one of the first lion tamers to put his head inside a lion's mouth. Van Amburgh developed his act in New York, and his London debut was in Astley's in August 1838. Queen Victoria enjoyed his shows and comissioned a portrait of him, completed in 1838.
Van Amburgh has the distinction amongst early lion tamers of being one of the few to die at home.
- Category:
- Printed Ephemera
- Object ID:
- 99.132/38c
- Object name:
- Van Amburgh, the Brute Tamer of Pompeii
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Marks, J.L.
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
91 Long Lane, Smithfield, London [City of London], City of London
- Production date:
- 1838-10-18
- Material:
paper, ink
- Measurements/duration:
- H 248 mm, W 204 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 60%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.