Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist D'Aubert & Cie.. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print is from the H Beard Print Collection.
It was made by D'Aubert & Cie around 1836.
The print depicts a scene from the Opera Comique, which is an interesting part of its history, showing a character from a specific performance, taken from the Musée de Costumes.
You can learn more about this type of art at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This early nineteenth‑century print, part of the H Beard Print Collection, reproduces a stage scene from the Opéra‑Comique. Executed by the Parisian publisher D’Aubert & Cie around 1836, the image records a performance of the comic opera Postillon de Lonjumeau, showing the actress Zoe Prévost in the role of Madeleine.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the character Madeleine, a central figure in the light‑hearted plot of Postillon de Lonjumeau. By portraying Zoe Prévost in costume, the print serves both as a visual record of a specific theatrical moment and as a celebration of the era’s popular operatic repertoire.
Technique & Style
Printed using the traditional copper‑plate engraving methods employed by D’Aubert & Cie, the image combines fine line work with delicate shading to suggest fabric texture and stage lighting. The style reflects the early‑Romantic taste for detailed, narrative prints that could be reproduced for a broad audience.
History & Provenance
The image derives from a costume illustration held by the Musée de Costumes, indicating its original purpose as a reference for theatrical dress. After its creation, the print entered the H Beard Print Collection, a private assemblage of nineteenth‑century graphic works that has been documented in recent catalogues.
Context
Postillon de Lonjumeau premiered in 1836 and quickly became a staple of the Opéra‑Comique’s repertoire, exemplifying the genre’s blend of spoken dialogue and melodic numbers. Zoe Prévost, a noted soprano of the period, was celebrated for her portrayals of youthful heroines, making this depiction a valuable glimpse into contemporary performance practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
A Paris printmaking studio active in the early 1800s, D’Aubert & Cie. produced colorful fashion plates and satirical engravings that documented the styles and social scenes of the day. Their prints in the H Beard…
