Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Samuel Cotes. It dates from 25 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The print is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and its creation date and subject give us some context about what it might be about.
The print is titled H Beard Print Collection.
It was created by Samuel Cotes on June 25th, 1771.
This print is a portrait, specifically depicting Mrs Yates as Electra, which suggests it may be related to theater or performance.
The print is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and its creation date and subject give us some context about what it might be about.
Check out the movement: Romanticism.
Overview
The work is a printed portrait dated 25 June 1771, executed by the English artist Samuel Cotes. It presents the figure of Mrs. Yates in the role of Electra, linking the image to contemporary theatrical performance. The print forms part of the H Beard Print Collection and is currently conserved by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
Mrs. Yates, a noted actress of the eighteenth‑century stage, is depicted assuming the mythological character Electra, a figure associated with vengeance and familial tragedy. The portrayal reflects the period’s interest in dramatizing classical subjects and underscores the actress’s versatility in embodying such emotionally charged roles.
Technique & Style
Cotes employed a fine‑line engraving technique typical of mid‑century British prints, rendering delicate facial features and costume details with precision. The composition exhibits the Romantic movement’s emphasis on expressive subject matter, while the restrained palette and clear delineation align with the era’s printmaking conventions.
History & Provenance
Created in 1771, the print entered the H Beard Print Collection, a private assemblage of British prints. It was later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings on eighteenth‑century theatrical portraiture.
Context
The portrait emerges from a period when theatrical portraiture served both as publicity for performers and as a means of disseminating popular stage imagery. Electra, drawn from Greek tragedy, was a frequent subject on the London stage, resonating with Romantic sensibilities that prized intense emotion and historic themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Cotes made prints in late 18th-century London. On 25 June 1771 he published the *H Beard Print Collection*, a set of engraved portraits and scenes that circulated across the city’s print-shops near Covent Garden.…
