Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Cyrus Cuneo. It dates from 1950 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This two‑page print, executed by Cyrus Cuneo in the early twentieth century, depicts a stage tableau from the Covent Garden production of Wagner’s opera Parsifal. It originally appeared as a visual accompaniment in the Illustrated London News, offering readers a glimpse of the performance.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration captures a moment from Parsifal, focusing on the opera’s dramatic and mythic atmosphere. By presenting the scene in a printed format, the image served to convey the narrative and visual splendor of the work to an audience unable to attend the live event.
Technique & Style
Cuneo employed line drawing and shading typical of early 1900s print illustration, arranging the composition across two facing pages to create a panoramic effect. The rendering balances detailed figure work with broader stage elements, reflecting the commercial illustration style of the period.
History & Provenance
Published in the Illustrated London News, the print functioned as part of a review of the Covent Garden staging of Parsifal. It later entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, which holds additional prints by Cuneo, documenting his contributions to periodical illustration.
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…
