Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Unknown. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a printed image that captures Sir James Barrie and the actress Ellen Terry seated together.
About this work
What's interesting is that they were friends and worked together on a play called Alice Sit by the Fire in 1905.
You see a print of two people sitting together, Sir James Barrie and Ellen Terry. They're both famous in their own ways, Barrie as a writer and Terry as an actress. What's interesting is that they were friends and worked together on a play called Alice Sit by the Fire in 1905.
Barrie thought highly of Terry, saying she was lovely as a young actress and dear as an older one. This friendship is highlighted in the print, showing their connection.
The print is held at the museum: Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The work is a printed image that captures Sir James Barrie and the actress Ellen Terry seated together. Both figures were prominent cultural personalities in early twentieth‑century Britain, Barrie as the author of the Peter Pan stories and Terry as a leading stage performer. The composition presents them in a relaxed pose, emphasizing their personal rapport rather than a formal portrait.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates the friendship between Barrie and Terry, a relationship that extended beyond occasional collaboration to a lasting mutual admiration. Barrie once praised Terry as the most charming young actress and, later, as a cherished elder colleague, reflecting the depth of his esteem. The image thus serves as a visual testament to their artistic kinship.
Context
The two figures first worked together on Barrie's 1905 play Alice Sit by the Fire, an occasion that cemented their bond. By 1913 Barrie had taken the rectorship of St Andrews, a post he held while maintaining his literary output, and his association with Terry remained a notable aspect of his social circle.
History & Provenance
The print is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, catalogued under the H Beard Print Collection. Its inclusion in the museum’s holdings reflects the institution’s interest in documenting the intersections of literary and theatrical history through printed media.
Artist & collection
