Leopoldo Fregoli in the centre inset portrait within a collage of other portraits of men.

Date:
1903
Reference:
2044515i
Part of:
The James Gardiner Collection.
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Credit

Leopoldo Fregoli in the centre inset portrait within a collage of other portraits of men. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

About this work

Also known as

Previous title, replaced May 2022: Leopoldo Fregoli poses in the centre inset portrait within a collage of other portraits of men. Process print, 1903.

Description

The following description was provided by James Gardiner: "A photo-montage showing the actor Leopoldo Fregoli surrounded by genuine portraits of many of the famous people whom he impersonated in his stage act. They include amongst many others Wagner, Karl Marx, Rossini, Verdi, Gladstone, Garibaldi, Kruger, Beethoven and others. Leopoldo Fregoli (Italian, 1867-1936) was the greatest 'protean' quick-change artist ever seen on the stage. This card shows him in just a few of his male and female disguises. He would play dozens of different characters in the course of his act, with total transformations being achieved in seconds. An international sensation, he appeared at the Palace Theatre London under the aegis of Alfred Moul in 1897. His name has been attached to 'Fregoli delusion' or 'Fregoli syndrome', a rare disorder whereby sufferers have a delusional paranoid belief that they are being persecuted by someone able to adopt different disguises."

Publication/Creation

Milano : Garzini e Pezzini, 1903.

Physical description

1 postcard : process print ; 8.6 x 13.9 cm

Lettering

Fregoli nella Eldorado (Quadro II) Lettering printed in black on the recto

Notes

This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer.

Reference

Wellcome Collection 2044515i

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Where to find it

  • Photograph album labelled ‘Drag'

    LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

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