Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Johann Steiner. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This single-sheet paper print, executed in the late eighteenth century, depicts the celebrated Italian librettist Pietro Metastasio.
About this work
Overview
This single-sheet paper print, executed in the late eighteenth century, depicts the celebrated Italian librettist Pietro Metastasio. Produced by the German engraver Johann Steiner, the work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s print collection. Unlike a painted portrait, the image is rendered through the printmaking process, allowing multiple copies to be distributed.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Pietro Metastasio (1698–1782), was a prolific poet and dramatist whose texts shaped European opera. The portrait presents him in a dignified pose, emphasizing his intellectual stature and cultural influence during the Enlightenment. Steiner’s focus on a single figure reflects the period’s interest in commemorating literary figures through visual media.
Technique & Style
Steiner employed a line engraving technique, using fine incised lines to model facial features and clothing textures. The composition is restrained, with a plain background that directs attention to the sitter’s expression and attire. The tonal gradations achieved through cross-hatching convey depth, characteristic of late‑Baroque print aesthetics.
History & Provenance
Created in the 1700s, the print entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings as part of its extensive collection of historic prints. It represents one of several portrait prints produced by Steiner, who was active in the German-speaking regions and known for his depictions of cultural personalities.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Steiner made late-18th-century prints, etching crisp lines onto copper plates and pressing them onto paper.
