Alfred Thompson (pseudonym: Thompson E. Jones, 7 October 1831 – 31 August 1895) was a British musical theatre librettist, set designer, costume designer, theatre manager, journalist and artist, contributing to
''Punch'' and
''Vanity Fair'' (signed "Ἀτη").
Biography
Thompson was born in London. He was educated at
Rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
and
Brighton
Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...
. He matriculated at
Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1850 and graduated B.A. in 1855. He served as a cavalry officer in the
6th Dragoons from 1855 until he sold his commission in 1857; he started as
cornet
The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...
and rose to captain. In 1854 he sold his first drawing to
''Diogenes'' and in 1856–1858 sold numerous drawings to
''Punch''. He studied art in Munich with private lessons from
Karl von Piloty
Karl Theodor von Piloty (1 October 1826 – 21 July 1886) was a German painter, noted for his historical subjects, and recognised as the foremost representative of the realistic school in Germany.
Life and work
Piloty was born in Munich. His fat ...
and in Paris under
Thomas Couture. In 1867 at the behest of
Arthur à Beckett, Thompson joined the literary staff of
''The Tomahawk''.
From February to December 1868, Thompson and
Leopold David Lewis edited a monthly review ''The Mask'', which failed. In the 1860s Thompson became successful as a librettist, set designer and costume designer for the British musical theatre in London. For the English stage he designed over five thousand costumes. During the 1870s in Manchester he was managing director of the
Theatre Royal and the
Prince's Theatre. In May 1883 as a journalist he represented the ''
Daily News'' at the coronation of
Tsar Alexader III. In the latter part of his career Thompson moved to Manhattan and became successful as a librettist for New York City musicals similar to those he had worked on in London and Manchester.
Libretti
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Gallery from Vanity Fair
File:John Villiers Stuart Townshend, Vanity Fair, 1870-02-26.jpg, John Villiers Stuart Townshend by "Ἀτη" in the 26 February 1870 issue
File:Robert Peel Vanity Fair 19 March 1870.jpg, Sir Robert Peel by "Ἀτη" in the 19 March 1870 issue
File:Sir-Frederick-Pollock.jpg, Sir Frederick Pollock by "Ἀτη" in the 2 April 1870 issue
File:Nawab of Bengal.jpg, Mansur Ali Khan of Bengal
Nawab Sayyid Mansur Ali Khan (29 October 1830 – 4 November 1884) was the Nawab of Bengal from 1838 until his abdication in 1880, whereupon he renounced his titles and position as Nawab. During his reign, he instituted various policies in th ...
by "Ἀτη" in the 16 April 1870 issue
File:Francis, Duke of Teck, Vanity Fair, 1870-05-14.jpg, Francis, Duke of Teck
, house = Teck
, father = Duke Alexander of Württemberg
, mother = Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde
, birth_name = Count Francis von Hohenstein
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Esseg, Slavonia, Austrian Empir ...
by "Ἀτη" in the 14 May 1870 issue
See also
*''
Pepita; or, the Girl with the Glass Eyes
''Pepita; or, the Girl with the Glass Eyes'', based on a story by E. T. A. Hoffmann, is a comic opera in three acts written by Alfred Thompson and composed by Edward Solomon. The opera was produced and directed by Thompson and Solomon and debuted ...
''
*
Vanity Fair caricatures
References
External links
National Portrait Gallery – Person – Alfred Thompson (Atn)''The log of the Water Lily'', illustrated by Alfred Thompson — Hathi Trust Digital LibraryFellows 1800 – 99 – Queens College Cambridge
Thomas Perronet Thompson was Alfred's uncle.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Alfred
1831 births
1895 deaths
Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
American musical theatre librettists
British caricaturists
British costume designers
British editorial cartoonists
English musical theatre librettists
People educated at Brighton College
People educated at Rugby School
Punch (magazine) cartoonists
Vanity Fair (British magazine) artists
Writers from London
19th-century American dramatists and playwrights