Artwork
H Beard Print Collection

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist H. Berthoud. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This black and white lithograph depicts a dream scene from the early 19th century.
About this work
This print shows a dream scene from the early 1800s. A demon plays violin beside a sleeping man in a cloudy bedroom. The caption explains how the famous Devil’s Sonata came from this dream.
It’s a lithograph, not a painting, made with greasy ink on stone. The artist’s signature mixes with the date 1824.
Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This black and white lithograph depicts a dream scene from the early 19th century. It shows a man asleep in bed while a demon plays a violin beside him.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates the supposed origin of Tartini's Devil's Sonata, a famous violin composition. A caption below the image recounts the story of how the composer dreamed the music after witnessing a demon playing the violin in his sleep.
Technique & Style
The work is a lithograph, created using greasy ink on stone. The artist's signature and the date 1824 are visible on the print, indicating it was made by L.Boilly.
History & Provenance
The print was published by H.Berthoud and appears to have been printed by C.Hullmandel. It is part of the Harry Beard Collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
H. Berthoud made 19th-century prints, likely news sheets or popular illustrations of the day. Their two surviving prints in this set show scenes from London life in the 1820s—one dated 14 March 1822 and another from…











