Sir Henry Irving as Becket

BY MICHAEL GERBINO, Chair, Art Committee

This dramatic chiaroscuro portrait by Frank Eugene of Sir Henry Irving as Becket in Tennyson’s play of the same name can be found on the third floor of the Clubhouse after its recent restoration. In a stroke of thespian serendipity, the portrait sits atop a display cabinet of theatrical costumes and swords, flanked by a life mask of Edwin Booth and the death mask of actress Ellen Terry. Irving often shared the stage with Edwin Booth, including an extraordinary production of Othello at the Lyceum Theatre in London, in which the two actors agreed to switch off the roles of Othello and Iago, with Ellen Terry as Desdemona. His partnership with Ellen Terry was legendary, creating one of the most memorable theatrical pairings of the era.

Henry Irving (1838–1905) was the first actor to be knighted by Queen Victoria, in 1895, and an early member of The Players. Born John Henry Brodribb in Somerset, England, he adopted the stage name Henry Irving and became one of the most celebrated actors and theatre managers of his time. He was renowned for his commanding presence, distinctive voice, and meticulous attention to detail in both performance and production. Like his American contemporary Edwin Booth, his roles ranged from Shakespearean classics like Hamlet and Macbeth to characters like Richelieu from popular melodramas.

During his long tenure as the actor-manager of the Lyceum Theatre in London, Irving elevated the art of acting and stage production to new heights and was a pioneer of theatrical realism, incorporating innovative lighting, elaborate sets, and historically correct costumes to immerse audiences in the experience. He is also believed to have been Player Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula. Stoker was a business manager at the Lyceum and idolized Irving, who was often described as difficult, brooding, and temperamental.

Irving’s legacy extends far beyond the stage—he inspired future generations of actors and helped to elevate popular perception of the theatre to a respected cultural institution. A statue of Irving by Sir Thomas Brock stands near the entrance of the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The Irving portrait was originally a full-length, life-size oil painting that was presented to The Players by Joseph Jefferson on Founder’s Night, December 31, 1895. How and why it was cut down is unknown.

Frank Eugene (1865–1936) was an American-born artist renowned for his work as both a painter and a pioneering photographer. He began his career by studying drawing and stage design at the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1886. Initially, he worked as a theatrical portraitist, creating painted portraits of actors, including this portrait of Irving and several of Players second President Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle, Bob Acres, and Caleb Plummer. Eugene’s training as a painter influenced his later photographic work, in which he developed a distinctive style that blurred the lines between painting and photography. He manipulated his negatives with scratches and brushstrokes, producing prints that resembled painterly compositions. This innovative technique led Alfred Stieglitz to invite him to become a founding member of the Photo-Secession movement, and the critic Sadakichi Hartmann recognized Eugene as a unique figure in American photography for his “artistic temperament” and unmatched skill in composition.

In 1906 Eugene permanently moved to Germany, where he continued to work as both a painter and photographer, collaborating with prominent artists and eventually focusing more on photography. He was appointed Royal Professor of Pictorial Photography at the Royal Academy of the Graphic Arts in Leipzig in 1913—a position created specifically for him, making him one of the first individuals to teach photography at the university level.

Though Eugene’s paintings are less documented today compared with his photographs, this portrait of Henry Irving as Becket ranks among the best at The Players.

The painting was restored by Jill Praxton and the frame conservation was completed by Eli Rios of ECR Antique Conservation and Restoration. Special thanks to Player Gregory Conn for his underwriting support to The Players Foundation for Theatre Education restoration program, making this project possible.

Player, Michael Gerbino; Photo by Leo Jacob

Michael Gerbino writes the monthly email blast “Artwork at The Players” and is the current Chair of the Art Committee. Michael also serves on the Board of Directors of The Players Foundation for Theatre Education.