Illustrated Song Sheets

The Illustrated Song Sheet Collection from the Music Library displays the diversity of live music and entertainment in Victorian times. The Victorian era had a burgeoning live entertainment industry, with packed music halls and populist performers such as George Leybourne and Arthur Lloyd. Parlour Music was also a massive part of Victorian life with various composers such as Charles D'Albert adapting many operas and dance numbers to be played at home.

Lithographic artists were employed to illustrate these song sheets, creating colourful and vibrant covers to help sell the latest song.

Many artists came to the fore during this era, illustrators such as Alfred Concanen, John Brandard, Henry Maguire and Thomas Packer amongst others whose work can be seen in our collection.

Lithography was the prime medium for music illustration, replacing engraving. Since Maxim Gauci, the 'father of music hall artists' huge developments led to the use of colour and numerous plates resulting in more elaborate illustrations. The process became more cost effective meeting the rising demand for song sheets at the time.

Often successful artists teamed up with a lithographic printing company such as Alfred Concanen and Stannard & Dixon, and John Brandard worked closely with M. & N. Hanhart. Together they maximized production and created high quality song sheet covers. The mid-nineteenth century was seen as the golden age of hand-painted lithography, with the later mechanization of the process and the emerging use of photography and typography, song sheet covers underwent some changes and eventually fell into decline in the early twentieth century.