Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Samuel De Wilde. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows an actress, Mrs Bland, in a staged role. It’s a portrait turned play part, part of a collection kept together by Harry Beard.
The print dates to around 1800 and comes from the Romantic era. It was made to look like a stage character named Beda in the opera Blue Beard.
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Overview
Beard Print Collection, a compilation of theatrical prints assembled by Harry Beard that documents the performance history of the period.
This 1800 print by Samuel De Wilde depicts the actress Mrs. Bland in the role of Beda from the opera Blue Beard. Created during the Romantic era, the work functions as a theatrical portrait, capturing the performer in a specific staged moment rather than as a private individual. De Wilde, a prominent British portraitist and engraver known for his depictions of contemporary actors, renders the subject with the dramatic flair characteristic of his career focus on the London stage.
The image is part of the H. Beard Print Collection, a compilation of theatrical prints assembled by Harry Beard that documents the performance history of the period. The composition emphasizes the character's costume and expression, serving as both a record of the production and a celebration of Mrs. Bland's acting prowess. As a commercial print, it was intended for public distribution, allowing audiences to own a visual memento of a popular theatrical role.
This piece exemplifies De Wilde's contribution to the visual culture of British theater at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures Mrs Bland embodying Beda, a figure from the popular Romantic opera Blue Beard. By presenting the actress in costume, the print serves both as a record of her appearance and as a visual promotion of the production, allowing audiences to recall the performance and the dramatic narrative associated with the tragic heroine.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the image relies on fine line work to render facial features, fabrics, and ornamental details. The Romantic sensibility is evident in the expressive pose and the emphasis on emotion, while the print’s compositional balance reflects the conventions of portraiture adapted for theatrical representation.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the Harry Beard Collection, a grouping of works assembled by the eponymous collector. Its inclusion in this private assemblage indicates the historical interest in preserving theatrical memorabilia and the role of collectors in safeguarding such ephemera for future study.
Context
Created at the turn of the nineteenth century, the portrait aligns with a broader trend of commemorating stage performers through printed media. During the Romantic era, opera and theatre enjoyed heightened popularity, and prints like this functioned as both souvenir and promotional material, extending the reach of performances beyond the auditorium.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel De Wilde (1751 – 19 January 1832), born and died in London, was a portrait painter and etcher of Dutch descent famous for his theatrical paintings.
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William Farren as Lord Ogleby in <i>The Clandestine Marriage</i> by George Colman the Elder and David Garrick
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Portrait of George Davies Harley
Mrs. Davenport as Dame Ashfield in Morton's 'Speed the Plough'
Untitled
