Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Cyrus Cuneo. It dates from 12 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Cyrus Cuneo made a print in 1903 showing a stage scene. It’s called “Scene from the revival of Henry V” at the Lyceum Theatre. The print shows Lewis Waller as King Henry and Sarah Brooke as Princess Katherine.
The print comes from a black-and-white photo taken two years earlier. It captures one moment in a famous play revival.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The print reproduces a theatrical moment, not a live performance, and reflects the era’s interest in documenting stage productions through graphic media.
A 1903 print by Cyrus Cuneo depicts a moment from the 1900 revival of Shakespeare’s Henry V at London’s Lyceum Theatre. Based on a black-and-white photograph published in January 1901, the image captures actors Lewis Waller and Sarah Brooke in character as King Henry and Princess Katherine. The print reproduces a theatrical moment, not a live performance, and reflects the era’s interest in documenting stage productions through graphic media.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays the pivotal moment in Henry V when the English king courts Princess Katherine, blending political alliance with personal charm. Waller’s portrayal emphasizes Henry’s authority and charisma, while Brooke’s Katherine conveys quiet dignity amid cultural negotiation. The image serves as a visual record of a celebrated stage interpretation, preserving the emotional tone of the play’s climactic courtship.
Technique & Style
Cuneo’s print is a tonal reproduction, likely a photomechanical process such as halftone, translating a photographic source into a printed image. The composition is tightly framed, focusing on the two figures in profile, with minimal background detail. Lines are crisp, contrasts are muted, and the style prioritizes clarity over artistic embellishment, aligning with journalistic illustration practices of the time.
History & Provenance
The image originates from a photograph published in Black and White magazine on January 12, 1901, documenting the Lyceum Theatre’s revival of Henry V. Cyrus Cuneo adapted this photograph into a print two years later, possibly for wider distribution or archival purposes. The work is now held in the H. Beard Print Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it contributes to the study of late-Victorian theatre documentation.
Context
The 1900 revival of Henry V at the Lyceum was a major cultural event, staged during a period of heightened British imperial confidence. The production, led by actor-manager Henry Irving, emphasized national pride and historical pageantry. Cuneo’s print emerged amid growing public interest in theatrical imagery, as photography and print media made stage performances accessible beyond the auditorium.
Legacy
Cuneo’s print remains a key artifact in understanding how theatre was visually archived in the early 20th century. It exemplifies the transition from live performance to mediated representation, influencing how future generations would encounter Shakespeare on stage. Its preservation in the V&A underscores its value as a historical document rather than a work of fine art.
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…
