Talk:Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth

A fact from Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 24 October 2011 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that the dress worn by Ellen Terry in John Singer Sargent's painting of her portrayal of Lady Macbeth is decorated with 1,000 iridescent green beetle wings?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2011/October. The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth.

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Old version[edit]

An old version of this article was deleted by MuZemike in June. I have asked if there is anything useful in the deleted version. -- Theramin (talk) 23:53, 10 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

DYK nomination[edit]

See Template:Did you know nominations/Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth

Lovely article. I think that if you had created a crop of the top square on the painting for a DYK nom then it would have taken the picture slot. but great! Victuallers (talk) 15:46, 23 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. I think Orlady created one (see the discussion in the DYK nomination subpage linked above). I'd have linked the iridescent green beetle wings too. Perhaps there is time to change them? Shrug. -- Theramin (talk) 00:28, 24 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Black & white sketch[edit]

The black & white (grisaille) sketch is identified in the article as depicting Ellen Terry in the costume as Macbeth, but the image clearly depicts her surrounded by men in Arab garb. "Macbeth" takes place in Scotland! I do not believe that this drawing depicts any scene from "Macbeth" and probably does not even depict the same costume. Ahkond (talk) 19:05, 24 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Well, the Tate says the NPG has a grisaille sketch of the painting, and the one shown is the only one that fits the part.[1] And the colour version of the same sketch ([2]) is clearly a green dress, and is captioned 'ELLEN TERRY AT [sic] LADY MACBETH by John Singer Sargent Inscribed "To my friend Miss Terry"'.

I have no idea why the attendants look like they are performing in a nativity play. Artistic licence? But is this dress really the sort of thing the historic Lady Macbeth would have worn anyway? -- Theramin (talk) 20:25, 27 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"wearing the dress in later life" - um, no.[edit]

The article at present says, "The National Portrait Gallery holds a photograph of Ellen Terry wearing the dress in later life." The citation at the point directs to http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portraitLarge/mw135908/Ellen-Terry-as-Lady-Macbeth-in-Macbeth. On that page, the National Gallery states that the photograph was made in 1888:

"Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth in 'Macbeth' by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove platinum print, 1888; published 1906 5 3/8 in. x 3 7/8 in. (137 mm x 99 mm) image size Given by Nicholas Blake, 2007 NPG Ax131311"

The painting was done in 1889, inspired by the performance in 1888.

The statement in the article is therefore incorrect. The photograph and the painting are contemporaneous.

I've therefore corrected the article.

It is worth noting that Ellen Terry was 41 years old at the time. The photograph is made in natural light and the actress appears to wear no makeup. If she looks older than she does in the painting, that's one reason why; the other reason is that Sargeant clearly idealized the portrait.

Poihths (talk) 17:14, 12 October 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Citation losses[edit]

I was looking at this article and the first two citations I clicked on were broken. I think citation 3 (The archaeology of a dress, 29 March 2011) is now https://www.sott.net/article/226601-Where-Beauty-Transcends-Time-The-Archaeology-of-a-Dress since it links to the original Past Horizons site, which seems to have been bought by someone unrelated. Citation 11 (Famous 'Beetle Wing' dress of Victorian actress Ellen Terry returns to her home, National Trust) returns an error page, and I'm not sure I can track it down, and Citation 8 (Sepia photolithographic print of the painting, c.1870, Victoria & Albert Museum) automatically redirects me to the original site as well. Does anyone want to fix some of these up, or at least find archival links for some? I don't have an account or the experience to feel like I have right to replace citations. 50.99.141.154 (talk) 01:24, 26 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

National Trust pilot 2[edit]

I added some ^{[citation needed]}'s to the article as part of this National pilot - I have two days left, so don't have time to make the changes myself. Thank you. Lajmmoore (talk) 08:15, 22 February 2024 (UTC)[reply]