Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Charles Stanley Herve. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 19th‑century print presents a theatrical portrait of Miss Goddard in the role of Hermione from Shakespeare’s *The Winter’s Tale*.
About this work
Overview
This 19th‑century print presents a theatrical portrait of Miss Goddard in the role of Hermione from Shakespeare’s *The Winter’s Tale*. Executed by Charles Stanley Herve, the image was issued commercially by the publisher Hailes Lacy and is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the actress embodying the tragic queen Hermione, a central figure in the play’s themes of loss, redemption, and maternal devotion. By focusing on a single performer, the print serves both as a visual record of a specific stage production and as a broader illustration of the era’s fascination with Shakespearean drama.
Technique & Style
Created as a printable image, the work employs line engraving techniques typical of mid‑1800s theatrical prints. Herve’s handling of chiaroscuro and fine hatching conveys the costume’s texture and the actress’s expression, while the flat background emphasizes the figure’s prominence.
History & Provenance
Issued by Hailes Lacy, a notable London publisher of theatrical ephemera, the print circulated among audiences and collectors as a souvenir of the performance. The Victoria and Albert Museum later acquired the piece, documenting its provenance within the institution’s extensive print holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
These prints show 19th-century everyday life in sharp, witty detail—street scenes, shop fronts, crowds in motion.
