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From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
H Beard Print Collection is a 1 by James Gillray, a Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This print shows Elizabeth Billington, a famous opera singer, dressed in a dramatic costume. She holds a fan and stands in a pose that shows off her voice. Her wide eyes and open mouth make it look like she’s singing right now. Gillray made this print in 1800. He often mocked famous people in his work. Here, though, he shows Billington with respect. She was so popular that theaters paid her more than today’s top stars. Look up Gillray, James next.
The print titled *A Bravura Air MANDANE* is a full-length portrait of Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel), etched, stipple engraved, and hand colored. Published in London by Hannah Humphrey, it depicts Billington in her role as Mandane in Thomas Arne’s opera *Artaxerxes*, first performed in 1801. Known for her exceptional vocal range, Billington was one of the most sought-after opera singers of her time, commanding high salaries and alternating performances between Covent Garden and Drury Lane theaters.
Read the full account in the museum source.
James Gillray (13 August 1756 – 1 June 1815) was an English caricaturist and printmaker famous for his etched political and social satires, mainly published between 1792 and 1810.
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