Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Matthias Darly. It dates from 21 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print by Matthias Darly shows a dancer in a lively scene titled *The Cotillon Dancer, Run Mad - In Bath*.
This print by Matthias Darly shows a dancer in a lively scene titled *The Cotillon Dancer, Run Mad - In Bath*. It’s a single sheet in black ink, dated January 1771. Darly made it in London, where such prints poked fun at London’s dance craze.
The title hints at the chaos of a cotillon, a fancy dance where things could “run mad.” These prints sold fast—cheap laughs for folks who wanted a laugh at the dance floor.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This print, dated January 1771, is part of a collection by Matthias Darly, published in London. It is a black ink work titled 'The Cotillon Dancer, Run Mad - In Bath'.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a lively scene of a dancer, satirizing the cotillon, a fashionable dance prone to chaotic moments. The title plays on the idea of things 'running mad' during such events, offering a humorous take on London's dance craze.
Technique & Style
Executed in black ink, the print is characteristic of Darly's satirical style, which poked fun at societal trends.
History & Provenance
The print is part of a collection by Matthias Darly, a London publisher known for his satirical prints. Similar works are held by institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
The print reflects the popularity of satirical prints in 18th-century London, which provided cheap entertainment for those looking to mock the excesses of high society, particularly the dance craze.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mary and Matthew Darly were English printsellers and caricaturists during the 1770s.
