William Timlin, The Colosseum ,1932
Provenance :
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Literature :
Notes : William Timlin, architect, artist and illustrator of the beloved book, The Ship that Sailed to Mars, which has, since publication in 1923 become a fantasy classic, clearly brought to his vision of The Colosseum a unique sensibility. The flagship of African Consolidated Theatres, opened by General Smuts in 1933, soon became the crown of Commissioner Street with its distinct ‘Egyptian’ motif on the facade. The auditorium, designed by Timlin in a ‘castleated’ style with turrets and fairy dragons, must have delighted audiences—adults and children alike. The ceiling of the large auditorium which contained hundreds of tiny concealed lights giving the effect of looking up at a night sky with stars twinkling, would have created a magical effect comparable to Timlin’s drawing a wondrous image of the jewel in city of gold’s nightlife. EB
Condition_report : Laid down on board, oxidized and discoloured, minor staining in areas around the edges, paper is brittle.
