Statue of Henry Dixey as Adonis: Museum Object and Cultural History
Statue of Henry Dixey as Adonis: date made: ca. 1880s. date made: 1886. Object Name: statue.
The object in the museum catalogue
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.
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.
Materials, dates and provenance
- date made: ca. 1880s
- date made: 1886
- Object Name: statue
- Physical Description: ceramic (overall material)
- Measurements: overall: 31 in x 12 1/2 in x 9 in; 78.74 cm x 31.75 cm x 22.86 cm
- place made: United States: New York, New York City
- Subject: Entertainment
- Subject: Entertainment, general
- Subject: Theater
- ID Number: 2018.0054.01
- accession number: 2018.0054
- catalog number: 2018.0054.01
- Data Source: National Museum of American History
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Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of American History through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed.
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