Artwork
H Beard Print Collection

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Dick Doublestone. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a satirical print titled “Some‑thing peeping at No‑thing,” produced in London in 1825.
About this work
This print pokes fun at a famous singer from the early 1800s named Giovanni Velluti. It shows him backstage looking curious about something odd. The print came out in London in 1825.
It was published by John Fairburn and is part of a group of prints aimed at humor. The scene uses sheet music in the background, which adds to the joke.
Look up the artist Dick Doublestone next.
Overview
The work is a satirical print titled “Some‑thing peeping at No‑thing,” produced in London in 1825. It belongs to a series of humorous prints and was issued by the publisher John Fairburn. The image caricatures the early‑19th‑century castrato singer Giovanni Velluti, depicting him backstage with a curious expression.
Subject & Meaning
The composition lampoons Velluti’s reputation as a celebrated vocalist by placing him in a playful, almost voyeuristic pose, suggesting he is spying on an unseen object. The inclusion of sheet music in the background reinforces the musical context and underscores the joke about the singer’s presence and performance.
Technique & Style
Executed as a single‑plate print, the work employs line work and shading typical of early 19th‑century caricature. The stylized figures and exaggerated facial features serve the satirical intent, while the printed musical notation adds a decorative, narrative element.
History & Provenance
Printed by John Fairburn, a London publisher known for producing popular and comedic prints, the image circulated among the city’s theatrical and musical audiences. It forms part of a broader collection of prints that used humor to comment on contemporary public figures.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Dick Doublestone made prints in the early 1800s, leaving behind one known piece in the collection: H Beard Print Collection from July 1825.







