Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by Jean Bérain in 1710.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

H Beard Print Collection is a print by Jean Bérain. It dates from 1710 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is an etching depicting a male dancer positioned within a formal garden setting.

About this work

Overview

The work is an etching depicting a male dancer positioned within a formal garden setting. Rendered in ink on paper, the image presents the figure in period costume, complete with a broad‑skirted jacket, breeches, a fitted doublet, and a large feather‑trimmed hat with an upturned brim.

Subject & Meaning

The dancer appears mid‑movement, suggesting a celebratory or ceremonial performance typical of courtly entertainments. The elaborate attire and landscaped backdrop emphasize the aristocratic context of the dance, highlighting the interplay between fashion, status, and artistic expression in the period.

Technique & Style

Executed as an etching, the artist employed line work and tonal variation to model the figure’s clothing and the surrounding foliage. The medium allows for fine detail in the hat’s feathers and the folds of the jacket, while the contrast between dark outlines and lighter spaces creates a sense of depth within the garden scene.

History & Provenance

This print is a duplicate of an identical image that formed part of the dance print collection assembled by choreographer Marie Rambert and her husband, Ashley Dukes, during the early twentieth century. The duplicate now resides in the Harry Beard Collection, linking it to the broader archival efforts to document dance imagery.

Context

The inclusion of the print in Rambert’s collection reflects early twentieth‑century interest in preserving visual records of historic dance forms. Such prints served both as scholarly references for choreographers and as cultural artifacts illustrating the evolution of costume and performance practice.