Artur (Arthur) Ernesto Teixeira Barbosa – Six Musical Theatre Costume Designs (1930s)

£1,350.00

1 in stock

All six pictures have now been framed – see gallery image; ‘Wrap me up in Silver Foil’.

From left to right:

1. Piccadilly number, costerwoman. Pencil, watercolour, and body colour. Signed “Barbosa” with fur-ther notes and inscriptions written in pencil on off white wove paper. Sheet: 28.3 x 2.6 cm. Mount: 45.5 x 37.7 cm.
2. Chorus costume, “wrap me up in cotton wool”. Pencil, watercolour, and body colour. Varnish and silver foil have also been applied. Signed “Barbosa” together with further notes and inscriptions written in pencil on off white wove paper. Sheet: 27.6 x 17.2 cm. Mount: 44.5 x 33.4 cm.
3. Chorus costume, “wrap me up in cellophane”. Pencil, watercolour, and body colour. Varnish and silver foil have also been applied. Signed “Barbosa” together with further notes and inscriptions written in pencil on off white wove paper. Sheet: 27 x 17.5 cm. Mount: 44 x 33.5 cm.
4. Chorus costume, “wrap me up in silver foil”. Pencil, watercolour, and body colour. Silver foil has also been applied. Signed “Barbosa” together with further notes and inscriptions written in pencil on off white wove paper. Sheet: 27.6 x 17.4 cm. Mount: 44.6 cm x 33.6 cm.
5. Black net frock over gold nickers and brassiere. Pencil and watercolour with touches of gold. Signed “Barbosa” together with a description of the garment written in pencil on off white wove paper. Sheet: 28.3 x 20.2 cm. Mount: 45.4 x 36.3 cm.
6. Society Wedding, costume for groomsman. Pencil, black ink watercolour and body colour on off white wove paper. Inscribed with the title and signed “Barbosa” in black ink. Sheet: 27.6 x 19.8 cm. Mount: 44.7 x 36.2 cm.

Each drawing has been mounted with conservation standard black rag board and presented in a new silvered frame.

Brand

Barbosa, Artur Ernesto Teixeira (1908-1995)

Artur Barbosa was born in Liverpool, the son of the Portuguese vice-consul and a half-French mother. He studied at Liverpool School of Art and the Central School of Art in London. Whilst still a student he produced illustrations for Everybody’s Weekly and The Radio Times. He also designed for the stage and produced drawings for fashion magazines and leading advertising agencies. Barbosa was at school with the actor Rex Harrison, the friendship endured into adulthood when Harrison commissioned Barbosa to design the interiors of his villa in Portofino, this in turn led to a commission to refurbish Elizabeth Taylor’s yacht, the Kalizma; Cecil Beaton and Laurence Olivier were also among his friends. His prolific book illustration was the most constant and popular element throughout his long career and he was commissioned by authors such as C.S Forester, George MacDonald Fraser, Patrick O'Brian and Georgette Heyer. His stylised designs are immediately recognisable and have become a characteristic perception of the (extended!) Regency period (Hornblower and Flashman technically fall either side of the years 1810-20!)