Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1791 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows a woman, Mrs. Siddons, acting on stage. She's playing Jane Shore in a play. The scene is from Act V of Nicholas Rowe's play Jane Shore.
The print was made in London in 1791, and it's interesting because it gives us a glimpse of what theater was like back then. To learn more about prints like this, check out the technique: sfumato.
Overview
This 1791 London print portrays the celebrated actress Sarah Siddons in the role of Jane Shore during the final act of Nicholas Rowe’s tragedy. Executed as a single‑sheet print, it captures a theatrical moment on stage, offering a visual record of late‑eighteenth‑century performance practice.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts Siddans embodying Jane Shore, the historical mistress of King Edward IV, whose downfall is dramatized in Rowe’s play. By presenting the heroine at the climax of Act V, the print emphasizes themes of repentance, public shame, and the moral consequences of courtly intrigue.
Technique & Style
Printed by J. Bell for the British Library, the work employs line engraving techniques typical of the period, with delicate gradations that suggest depth and atmosphere. Though not a true sfumato, the shading creates a softened transition between light and shadow, enhancing the theatrical ambience.
History & Provenance
Issued in September 1791, the print was part of a series documenting notable stage performances. It entered the Harry Beard Collection, a private assemblage of theatrical ephemera, and remains catalogued within the British Library’s holdings, providing scholars with a rare visual complement to contemporary reviews of Siddons’s portrayal.
Artist & collection
