Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by George Henry Harlow. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 19th-century print depicts the sleepwalking scene from Shakespeare's *Macbeth*, featuring Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth.
About this work
Overview
This 19th-century print depicts the sleepwalking scene from Shakespeare's *Macbeth*, featuring Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth. Designed as a tinted transparency, it is intended for viewing with a light source behind it.
Subject & Meaning
The print captures Lady Macbeth's guilt-ridden sleepwalking scene following the play's murders, conveying the character's psychological turmoil through this iconic moment.
Technique & Style
Executed as a tinted transparency, the print relies on backlighting (e.g., from a candle or lamp) to achieve its full visual effect, reflecting early 19th-century experimental print techniques.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1800s, the print is part of the H Beard Print Collection and is housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Henry Harlow made drawings and prints of people in early 19th-century Britain.
