Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Robert Dodd. It dates from 26 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This ink print, dated 1777, captures a theatrical moment from the original staging of *The Minor*.
About this work
This print shows an actor on stage in 1777. The artist used ink on paper to capture a single moment. It’s part of a series owned by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The actor plays Mrs. Cole in a famous play called The Minor. The print records a real performance from that year, not just a face.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.
Overview
This ink print, dated 1777, captures a theatrical moment from the original staging of *The Minor*. It depicts the actor Mr. Foote performing the role of Mrs. Cole in the play’s first act. The image is one of several prints that document live performances of the period, and it is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The work records a specific instance of gender disguise on the 18th‑century stage, a common comic device in which the male actor Mr. Foote assumes the female character of Mrs. Cole. By portraying the performance rather than a portrait, the print offers insight into contemporary theatrical conventions and audience expectations of humor and role‑playing.
Technique & Style
Executed in ink on paper, the print relies on line work to delineate costume, posture, and stage setting. The artist emphasizes contrast and gesture to convey the immediacy of the scene, using minimal shading to suggest depth while maintaining the clarity needed for reproduction in a series of performance records.
History & Provenance
Created shortly after the original staging, the print became part of a broader series documenting notable theatrical productions of the era. The Victoria and Albert Museum acquired the series, where it remains as a reference for scholars studying 18th‑century British theatre and its visual representation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Dodd (1748 – 1815) was an English painter and engraver who specialised in marine art. He is known for his works on the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
