Twenty-three designs, notes and swatches for Sir Michael Tippett’s opera, ‘The Midsummer Marriage’, and two drawings for Sophocles’ ‘Electra’ at the Old Vic, 1950, by the artist Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)

[c.1950–77]

The material comprises twenty-three drawings, notes and swatches for 'The Midsummer Marriage', 1954-5, and 'Electra' at the Old Vic, 1950. The items are mostly designs for costumes (with one design appearing on the verso of a sheet), for characters in the opera such as Jennifer and Mark, 'He Ancient', 'She Ancient' and the Water Girls. In addition, there are designs for props such as the forms carried by Tree Presences as well as notes and diagrams relating to the mirror and bowl and the sticks and trumpets. The engineering of pieces is covered by notes about the wire bracing at the back of petals and their construction as well as the design for the torch. There are also colour swatches. The media used includes: pencil and coloured pencil, gouache, ink, fabric, and printed material all on paper.

Collection Owner: Dame Barbara Hepworth 1903–1975
Collection: Tate Archive
Acquisition: Presented by the Estate of Barbara Hepworth 2015
Reference: TGA 20159

23 objects in this collection

Twenty-three designs, notes and swatches for Sir Michael Tippett’s opera, ‘The Midsummer Marriage’, and two drawings for Sophocles’ ‘Electra’ at the Old Vic, 1950, by the artist Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)

23 Objects

Title: Twenty-three designs, notes and swatches for Sir Michael Tippett’s opera, ‘The Midsummer Marriage’, and two drawings for Sophocles’ ‘Electra’ at the Old Vic, 1950, by the artist Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975)
Date: [c.1950–77]
Description: The material comprises twenty-three drawings, notes and swatches for 'The Midsummer Marriage', 1954-5, and 'Electra' at the Old Vic, 1950. The items are mostly designs for costumes (with one design appearing on the verso of a sheet), for characters in the opera such as Jennifer and Mark, 'He Ancient', 'She Ancient' and the Water Girls. In addition, there are designs for props such as the forms carried by Tree Presences as well as notes and diagrams relating to the mirror and bowl and the sticks and trumpets. The engineering of pieces is covered by notes about the wire bracing at the back of petals and their construction as well as the design for the torch. There are also colour swatches. The media used includes: pencil and coloured pencil, gouache, ink, fabric, and printed material all on paper.
Reference: TGA 20159