Photograph of the hand-coloured title page from an album of photographs of Shakespearean tableaux enacted at Cromwell House in 1874 in the presence of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (1844-1900) and Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Edinburgh (1853-1920).

The album contains photographs of tableaux that were taken in Alexander Bassano's studio, following the performances in front of an audience at Cromwell Street. They show two to four poses from 10 of Shakespeare's plays including Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice, Winter's Tale, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Tempest, King John, Hamlet and The Merry Wives of Windsor. The photographs of the tableaux that were performed by aristocratic amateurs, were taken in the studio of Alexander Bassano (1829-1913) but were originally performed in April 1874 in the music room of 21 Cromwell Road, Kensington, the home of the architect Sir Charles Freake (1814-84). Arthur Sullivan wrote the music that was performed during the tableaux. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh acted as Royal patrons to the performances and with Princess Louise, viewed the performances at Cromwell House. The proceeds raised by the performances were donated to the National Orphan Home and the Victoria Hospital for Sick Children.