Artwork
H Beard Print Collection

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Samuel De Wilde. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The print portrays the actor Mr.
About this work
This print shows an actor playing Tyke in Morton’s *School of Reform*.
It’s by Samuel De Wilde, an English artist working in 1808.
Turner in London published the image that same year.
De Wilde liked to picture actors on stage.
Tyke is a funny schoolboy part—always getting into scrapes.
The print shows how theater stayed popular in prints.
Look up the artist Samuel De Wilde next.
Overview
The print portrays the actor Mr. Emery in the role of Tyke from Morton’s comic play *School of Reform*. Executed in 1808, the image was issued in London by the publisher C. Turner.
Subject & Meaning
Tyke is a mischievous schoolboy character who repeatedly finds himself in humorous predicaments, embodying the light‑hearted satire of early‑19th‑century English theatre. The work captures the theatrical performance as a moment of popular entertainment.
Technique & Style
Created by Samuel De Wilde, an English artist known for his stage‑scene depictions, the print employs line work and shading typical of early 1800s printmaking, emphasizing the actor’s costume and expressive gestures.
History & Provenance
The image was produced and distributed in the same year it was drawn, 1808, by the London firm C. Turner. It reflects the contemporary practice of reproducing theatrical scenes for a broader audience beyond the theatre.
Context
During this period, prints of actors and stage productions were a common means of disseminating theatrical culture. De Wilde’s focus on actors contributed to a visual record of performance practices and popular roles such as Tyke.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel De Wilde, born and died in London, was a portrait painter and etcher of Dutch descent famous for his theatrical paintings.

















