Statue of Henry Dixey as Adonis
date: label: date made
content: ca. 1880s
label: date made
content: 1886
notes: label: Description
content: Statue of actor Henry E. Dixey portraying Adonis in the play of the same name. The red ceramic figure is standing contrapposto, with right hand at and left hand on his hips, wearing a ruffled shirt, waistcoat, and an elaborate tailcoat. The figure is standing on a base engraved with the phrase DIXEY AS ADONIS and the name of the sculptor, Daniel B. Sheahan.
label: Description
content: Dixey was a popular actor in late-19th century burlesque and comic theater, renowned for his good looks and charm. He was best known as the star of the burlesque musical Adonis, which ran for a Broadway record 603 consecutive performances at New York's Bijou Theatre beginning in 1884. The musical, written by C. E. Rice, tells the story of a marble statue of a handsome man named Adonis that comes to life. After discovering that life as a human is complicated and unpleasant, Adonis chooses to become a statue again. Dixey's performance in the play was acclaimed, and he became known for his improvisational gags, singing, and shapely legs.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York, New York City
topic: label: Subject
content: Entertainment
label: Subject
content: Entertainment, general
label: Subject
content: Theater
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2018.0054.01
label: accession number
content: 2018.0054
label: catalog number
content: 2018.0054.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: statue
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: ceramic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 31 in x 12 1/2 in x 9 in; 78.74 cm x 31.75 cm x 22.86 cm