Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist Unknown. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1738 engraving, titled 'The Masque at the Old House', originally accompanied a musical score in Bickhams Musical Entertainer.
About this work
This print shows a crowded party in a fancy old house. Men and women in big wigs dance under chandeliers. Musicians play in the corner.
The image came from a 1738 music book. It’s an engraving, so lines were cut into metal then inked. You can still see the original book’s title on the print.
Try the Victoria and Albert Museum’s online collection to see more of these old prints.
Overview
This 1738 engraving, titled 'The Masque at the Old House', originally accompanied a musical score in Bickhams Musical Entertainer. Now part of the Harry Beard Print Collection, it depicts a lively gathering in an ornate, old residence.
Subject & Meaning
The print shows a crowded, fashionable party with men and women in elaborate wigs dancing beneath chandeliers, while musicians perform in a corner, capturing the essence of a high-society masque.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the image was created by cutting lines into metal plates, which were then inked. The print retains a visible imprint of the original music book's title.
History & Provenance
Originally published in 1738 within Bickhams Musical Entertainer, the engraving is now housed in the Harry Beard Print Collection.
Context
For similar works, the Victoria and Albert Museum's online collection offers a valuable resource for exploring 18th-century prints.
Artist & collection
