Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist John Donaldson. It dates from 1 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1783 print presents an image of Mary, Queen of Scots, rendered in the style of eighteenth‑century portraiture.
About this work
Overview
This 1783 print presents an image of Mary, Queen of Scots, rendered in the style of eighteenth‑century portraiture. The work is a single‑sheet engraving that was issued by the London publisher J. Murray, a notable figure in the print market of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The figure depicted is Mary Stuart, the Scottish monarch whose tumultuous reign and tragic execution have made her a frequent subject in visual culture. The portrait emphasizes her regal bearing and attire, reflecting contemporary interest in historical personalities and their moral narratives.
History & Provenance
Printed in 1783, the image was part of J. Murray’s catalogue of historical prints, aimed at a market of collectors and the educated public. Its survival in collections today attests to the enduring appeal of Mary’s story and the commercial networks that circulated such works in the late eighteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
This 18th-century artist made hand-colored prints that mixed news and humor. One of them, *H Beard Print Collection (1st April 1783)*, pokes fun at the day’s politics with exaggerated faces and crowd scenes. These…
