Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist R Davies. It dates from 1809 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This black-and-white etching captures a backstage scene from 1809, with actors preparing for a performance.
About this work
Backstage life in 1809 is frozen on this black-and-white etching. A troupe of actors, men and women, hurry to ready for a double bill of Richard III and Don Juan. The playbill in front tells the show’s title.
Romanticism shows up in the mood: everyday moments feel dramatic and alive. A few hand-tinted touches add just enough color to catch the eye.
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Overview
This black-and-white etching captures a backstage scene from 1809, with actors preparing for a performance. The image is largely monochrome, with a few touches of hand-tinting.
Subject & Meaning
The scene depicts a group of men and women engaged in various activities as they ready for a double bill of Richard III and Don Juan, as indicated by a playbill in the foreground.
Technique & Style
The etching's Romantic style is evident in its dramatic and lively portrayal of everyday moments. The use of hand-tinting adds a touch of color to the otherwise monochrome image.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Ruth Drawings kept a pet parrot named Ptolemy who chewed the nibs of her pens. She turned the bird’s beak marks into tiny prints, inking each page with a dry quill until the feathers got stuck in the paper. The March…
