Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by George Cruikshank in 1816.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

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

What movement is H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

George Cruikshank , 1816

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist George Cruikshank. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

The work is a multi‑panel print titled “Odds & Ends for February 1816,” comprising three distinct scenes that were published by Jones in 1816. Each panel carries a descriptive title and a subtitle, linking the images to contemporary events and satirical commentary of the period.

Subject & Meaning

Above it, a smaller vignette references the scandalous elopement of the singer Braham and Mrs.

The left panel, labeled “Biscuit and Gingerbread, or, The Rival Bakers,” portrays three men, one of whom holds a diminutive figure in his pocket, a visual gag suggesting competition among bakers. Above it, a smaller vignette references the scandalous elopement of the singer Braham and Mrs. Wright. The central image, “A Kean Manoeuvre to Pay Old Debts, or, Drury is Its Self Again,” features the celebrated actor Edmund Kean alongside the personification John Bull, hinting at theatrical intrigue. The right panel, “Parson B and the Butchers, or, A Propagationary Sermon at Christ Church, Newgate St,” shows a clergyman delivering a sermon, while an upper vignette depicts a man in bed and another mixing concoctions, titled “A Peep into the Punch Room at the Pavilion, or, The Gouty Adonis.”

Technique & Style

Executed as a single print, the composition relies on line work and caricature typical of early‑19th‑century British satirical prints. The artist incorporates exaggerated figures and unexpected details—such as the tiny man in a pocket—to create visual humor and narrative depth, aligning the work with the broader tradition of social commentary through print.

History & Provenance

Printed in 1816 by the publisher Jones, the piece reflects contemporary cultural moments, including theatrical scandals and public gossip. Its distribution as a printed sheet suggests it was intended for a broad audience, circulating among readers interested in current events and popular satire.

Context

The print belongs to a period when illustrated pamphlets and caricatures were a primary means of disseminating news and opinion. Its subjects—baker rivalries, the fame of Edmund Kean, and clerical satire—mirror the public’s appetite for commentary on everyday life, theatre, and religion during the Regency era.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank or Cruickshank ( KRUUK-shank; 27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life.