“Lewis Waller as Brutus,” by Edward Onslow Ford

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Lewis Waller as Brutus

Edward Onslow Ford, R. A. (1852-1901)

1900

Bronze

Source: Royal Academy Pictures, p.103

Lewis Waller (William Waller Lewis, 1860-1915) was a famous actor-manager, described in a brief biographical sketch by Rudolph de Cordova as "one of the foremost romantic actors of his generation." [continued below]

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text by Jacqueline Banerjee

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An autographed photograph of Waller as Brutus is used as the frontispiece of the little book in which the biographical sketch appears, and the author of the sketch says,

In discussing the characters he had played, Mr. Waller is inclined to regard "Brutus" as his favourite. "My reason for this selection," he said to me, "is that 'Brutus' appeals to me as the most perfect man in the whole gallery of the great Shakespearean characters on account of his dignity and gentleness, his absolute sense of right and duty, his tenderness, and the love he bore to Portia."

Having depicted him in the role he liked best, Onslow Ford has succeeded in capturing something of what he was trying to project in it — especially dignity and uprightness.

Bibliography

Royal Academy Pictures, 1900. London: Cassell, 1900. p. 74. Internet Archive. Web. 1 February 2012.

de Cordova, Rudolf. Biographical Sketch in Parts I have Played: A Photographic and Descriptive Biography, with Lewis Waller's name as author on the title page. London: The Abbey Press, 1909 (no page numbers). Internet Archive. Web. 1 February 2012.

Last modified 3 February 2012