Do you recognize this figure as Douglas? Douglas was a character in a play called Douglas that was written by John Home and first performed in 1756--and it remained popular into the nineteenth century. This tragedy, based on a Scottish ballad, tells of Lady Randolph, who secretly mourns Lord Douglas, her husband by a prior clandestine marriage, and their baby that she had abandoned. The baby is raised by a shepherd called Norval, and the child takes the name Young Norval. As the plot unfolds, Lady Randolph is reunited with Young Norval, who claims his father's name.
So here we have Douglas, formerly Young Norval. I have seen examples of this figure titled "Douglas." You may be wondering why he has a peg-leg. Good question! You see, figures of Douglas are sometimes paired with figures of the peg-legged busker Billy Waters. Below, we have just such a pair. Billy is on the left, with his familiar tri-corn hat, and Douglas is on the right, wearing a kilt.
So here we have Douglas, formerly Young Norval. I have seen examples of this figure titled "Douglas." You may be wondering why he has a peg-leg. Good question! You see, figures of Douglas are sometimes paired with figures of the peg-legged busker Billy Waters. Below, we have just such a pair. Billy is on the left, with his familiar tri-corn hat, and Douglas is on the right, wearing a kilt.
In the manner of its time, Douglas was sometimes performed on stage on the same evening as Life in London (featuring Billy Waters), so audiences might see both Douglas and Billy for the same admission. I think ignorance rather than a potter’s quirk accounts for Douglas’s peg leg!
Alan Kaplan recently sold this delicious plaque, which I admired in one of Jonathan Horne's Exhibitions some years back. It portrays a scene from Douglas.
On the right we have Young Norval/Douglas. The child star Master Betty, who was a great celebrity in his time, was famous in this role. And no, he did not have a peg leg!
To the left, we have, I assume, Old Norval....but I am open to suggestions.
And in the center, we have Lady Randolph, with her hand to her heart as she meets her long-abandoned son. The acclaimed Sarah Siddons was very famous in this role.
The Brighton Museum has a figure that looks just like the lady on the plaque. The Museum record, in error, describes the figure as Queen Caroline, but it is definitely not that lady, Rather, it is Lady Randolph.
There is no known source print for this plaque, so, although we can identify the characters, we cannot be certain of the identities of the actors in their roles.
I do think the plaque is hauntingly beautiful. The play, of course, ends in tragedy. Lord Randolph gets jealous and attempts to take Douglas's life. Douglas dies in his mother's arms....and Lady Randolph then commits suicide.
I do think the plaque is hauntingly beautiful. The play, of course, ends in tragedy. Lord Randolph gets jealous and attempts to take Douglas's life. Douglas dies in his mother's arms....and Lady Randolph then commits suicide.
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