Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Day & Haghe. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1844 print, produced by the lithographic firm Day & Hagge, captures a theatrical moment from Bellini’s opera La Sonnambula.
About this work
This print shows an actor on stage in a famous opera scene. Day & Haghe made it in 1844 as part of the Romanticism movement. The Victoria and Albert Museum calls it a portrait of I. J. Frazer as Elvino in La Sonnambula.
It includes a real signature copied from the actor himself. The print is small but full of drama and detail.
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Overview
This 1844 print, produced by the lithographic firm Day & Hagge, captures a theatrical moment from Bellini’s opera La Sonnambula. The image portrays the Scottish actor I. J. Frazer in the role of Elvino, rendered with a compact yet expressive composition that emphasizes the drama of the stage scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work serves as a visual record of 19th‑century operatic performance, presenting Frazer’s embodiment of Elvino, the lover who awakens the heroine. By focusing on the actor’s expressive posture and costume, the print conveys the emotional intensity central to Romantic opera, highlighting the interplay between music, narrative, and theatrical presence.
Technique & Style
Executed in lithography, the print employs fine line work and tonal shading characteristic of the Romantic aesthetic. Day & Hagge’s approach balances meticulous detail—such as the intricate costume elements—with broader, atmospheric strokes that suggest stage lighting, creating a sense of movement within a relatively small format.
History & Provenance
The piece was created as part of a series of theatrical portraits popular in the mid‑1800s, reflecting the era’s fascination with celebrity performers. A facsimile of Frazer’s own signature is incorporated into the image, underscoring its authenticity. The print now resides in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
These artists specialized in hand-colored lithographs in the 1830s–40s, turning prints into vivid records of places and subjects.
