Elizabeth Linley: Animation

RENOWNED FOR HER BEAUTY, TALENT AND DRAMATIC LOVE LIFE, ELIZABETH LINLEY SECURES HER ENDURING FAME WITH A SHOW-STOPPING PORTRAIT

BACKGROUND

In 1787, Thomas Gainsborough completed one of his most sensational portraits: Mrs Richard Brinsley Sheridan. A close friend and likely confidant, he had painted Eliza several times before, most notably in the double portrait Elizabeth and Mary Linley (1772), which now dominates the enfilade of old masters at Dulwich Picture Gallery, London.

In 2011, the 31-year-old Mrs Sheridan travelled from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, to sit alongside her younger self in Dulwich as part of the Gallery’s bicentenary celebrations. The 18-year-old gazes into the distance, caught by Gainsborough as she no doubt imagines her imminent elopement with a young and romantic Sheridan. Over a decade later, she gazes out at us, world weary and alone, but undeniably beautiful, fashionable and in control.

Seeing the two side by side was the catalyst for this short animation and an excuse to delve into the story between the two paintings. By the time of the later one, Sheridan’s affairs were widely known. The portrait was Eliza’s answer, using the media she knew so well to cement an enduring reputation as an icon of the Romantic. As Dulwich Director Ian Dejardin says: “It’s like Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal: the sad beauty in the romantic landscape. This is how she wanted to be remembered.”

SYNOPSIS

The film begins by imagining the older Eliza reflecting on her celebrity past, conjuring up caricatures of society figures like the writers Dr Johnson, Horace Walpole and Fanny Burney, as well as high society fans like the Duchess of Devonshire and King George III. But Eliza is now a figure who transcends time, as much connected to her fans today, as those of the past. The film draws these worlds together, triumphantly reinforcing her legacy and enduring inspiration.

ANIMATION STYLE

Elizabeth Linley and her world are brought to life using two different types of animation. The first is 2D cut-out animation, which reflects the Georgian fashion for printed cartoons and the theatrical style of the Comedy of Manners. Eliza herself was caricatured in such comedies, including Samuel Foote’s The Maid of Bath as well as The Rivals written by her own husband Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Accordingly the cast of gossiping society figures are designed and animated as mannered characters in the style of 18th-century prints.

The second animation style uses 3D computer techniques to portray much more subtle character acting. This brings to life the painted Eliza: a real woman adopting the persona of a Romantic heroine for an adoring public. Watching the 1995 Panorama interview of Princess Diana by Martin Bashir provided the inspiration for this.

The Lost Romance of Elizabeth Linley was developed through an Open Workshop residency and AniDox: Lab with the support of The Animation Workshopand the Danish Film Institute. We are grateful to all those who generously supported our Kickstarter campaign to make this film possible.

FILM CREDITS

A film by Leo Crane
Music by The Unrecorded

PRODUCERS
Daniel Alexander
Harvey & Allison McGrath

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Ingrid Beazley

DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
ANIDOX:LAB
The Animation Workshop
Danish Film Institute
Uri Kranot
Michelle Kranot
Hans Frederick Jacobsen

THANKS TO
Dulwich Picture Gallery
SolidAngle | Arnold Renderer

PICTURE CREDITS
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

ANIMATION
Leo Crane
Jon Petter Vorren

MUSIC & SOUND
Andrew Hayes

CHARACTERS & BACKGROUNDS
Leo Crane
Carlos Toebels
Arda Kaya
Birk von Brockdorff
Evelina Jeliazkova
Iuliia Markina

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Archit Vazé
Colin Tunnicliffe
Alexandra Carson
Andromeda Godfrey
Niovi Phinopoulou
Emanuela Gatto

VOICES
Ian Dejardin
Caroline Kenny
Samuel R Crane
Abbie Hayes
Gillian Daniell
Leo Crane
Angus Haldane

GALLERY CROWD
Esme Addams
Jonathan Armour
Ingrid Beazley
Angie Macdonald
Emily Sterz
Olivia Syla
Jon Petter Vorren