Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist W Ridley. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1794 engraved portrait depicts a gentleman identified as Mr.
About this work
Overview
This 1794 engraved portrait depicts a gentleman identified as Mr. Bernerd. Executed as a print, the work is part of the Harry Beard Collection, a grouping of similar graphic pieces.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents Mr. Bernerd in a formal pose typical of late‑eighteenth‑century portraiture, emphasizing his social standing through attire and compositional conventions of the period.
Technique & Style
Created through engraving, the portrait employs fine line work to render facial features and clothing details. The style reflects the restrained realism and clear delineation characteristic of British printmaking in the 1790s.
History & Provenance
The print was produced in 1794 and later entered the Harry Beard Collection, a private assemblage of prints. Its documented ownership traces directly from its creation to its current inclusion in this collection.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
English artist W. Ridley left no letters or diaries, only prints. In 1794 he etched lively street scenes for the H. Beard print collection, cramming London shopfronts and passers-by into small, lively panels. He worked…
