H Beard Print Collection

The print portrays the two actors, Antonio Poletti and Giuseppe Picchi, in a pose that references their roles in the May 1855 production. By foregrounding the performers, the image functions as a commemorative record, celebrating the occasion and preserving the likenesses of the artists for contemporary and future audiences.

Executed as a print, the image employs the realistic detailing characteristic of mid‑century Realist visual culture. The line work and shading convey the figures with a fidelity to appearance, emphasizing accurate representation over idealisation, in line with the movement’s focus on everyday subjects and factual documentation.

Created by the printmaker Gaspari, the work entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings, where it remains catalogued. Its provenance traces directly to the 1855 theatrical event, linking the object to a specific cultural moment and to the broader practice of producing commemorative prints for public consumption.

The print belongs to the Realist movement, which sought to depict contemporary life with unembellished accuracy. In the 1850s, theatrical performances were popular public spectacles, and printed commemorations like this one provided a means of disseminating images of celebrated artists beyond the theatre’s walls.