Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Cyrus Cuneo. It dates from 27 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a black‑and‑white print created in 1901 that captures a stage moment from William Shakespeare’s *Coriolanus*.
About this work
This print shows a scene from Shakespeare’s play *Coriolanus*. It’s a black-and-white image from 1901. The moment is set at the Lyceum Theatre with actor Henry Irving in the role.
The print belongs to the H Beard Collection. It’s one of many theater scenes that artists made in the 1800s and early 1900s.
Check out more prints by Cuneo, Cyrus.
Overview
The work is a black‑and‑white print created in 1901 that captures a stage moment from William Shakespeare’s *Coriolanus*. It illustrates Act II, Scene IV as it was performed at London’s Lyceum Theatre, featuring the renowned actor Henry Irving in the title role.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents the dramatic climax of Coriolanus’s exile, emphasizing the tension between the Roman patrician and the plebeian crowd. By focusing on Irving’s expressive portrayal, the print underscores the theatrical power of Shakespeare’s political themes during the Victorian era.
Technique & Style
Executed as a monochrome print, the piece relies on line work and tonal contrast to convey depth and movement on stage. The artist employs fine hatching to suggest lighting effects and the crowded auditorium, a common approach among turn‑of‑the‑century illustrators documenting live theatre.
History & Provenance
Printed in 1901, the work entered the H Beard Collection, a private assemblage of theatrical prints amassed in the early twentieth century. The collection includes numerous depictions of contemporary stage productions, reflecting a period interest in preserving performance history through graphic media.
Context
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, prints of theatrical scenes were popular among both theatre enthusiasts and the general public. They served as visual records of celebrated productions and actors, with Henry Irving—then the first actor to be knighted—being a frequent subject of such commemorative images.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cyrus Cuneo made finely detailed prints in the early 1900s. Three works in this set show his sharp lines and everyday scenes: a print dated 27 April 1901, another dated 12 January 1903, and one from the same period…
