Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

H Beard Print Collection, by Craig, D., 4
H Beard Print Collection, by Craig, D., 4

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Craig, D.. It dates from 4 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1814 print depicts a pivotal moment from *The Beggar’s Opera*, Act II, Scene 13, featuring Casey as Macheath, a charismatic outlaw.

About this work

This print captures a scene from *The Beggar’s Opera*, Act II, Scene 13. The artist shows Casey playing Macheath, a bold outlaw. Printed in 1814, it’s part of the Harry Beard collection.

It belongs to Romanticism, focusing on drama and emotion, not perfect beauty. The moment feels raw—like a snapshot of rebellion in theater.

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for more prints like this.

Overview

This 1814 print depicts a pivotal moment from *The Beggar’s Opera*, Act II, Scene 13, featuring Casey as Macheath, a charismatic outlaw. Part of the Harry Beard collection, it exemplifies the Romantic era's emphasis on dramatic intensity over classical ideals of beauty.

Subject & Meaning

The print captures Macheath, a bold outlaw, in a dramatic pose, conveying the character's rebellious spirit. The scene's raw emotion reflects the Romantic focus on intense feeling and the human experience.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1814, the print's style aligns with Romanticism's preference for expressive, emotive representation over precise beauty, suggesting a dynamic, possibly theatrical, visual approach.

History & Provenance

Printed on June 4, 1814, the work is housed within the Harry Beard Print Collection, indicating its preservation and historical significance within a dedicated print archive.

Context

Contemporaneous with the early 19th-century theatrical scene, this print reflects the era's theatrical tastes and the popularity of *The Beggar’s Opera*. For similar works, see the Victoria and Albert Museum's print collections.

Artist & collection

Artist

Craig, D.

British printmaker active in the early 1800s, D. Craig carved scenes of London life for popular broadsheets. One of those prints, *H Beard Print Collection (4th June 1814)*, shows a bustling street corner with carriages…