Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by Hans Holbein the Younger.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

Hans Holbein the Younger

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Hans Holbein the Younger. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This print shows Charles V, a powerful 16th-century ruler. It's part of the H Beard Print Collection and was made in 1750, long after his reign. The print sits in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

The Knapton brothers printed it in London, though the original portrait could be much older. It’s a Romantic-era take on a historic figure.

Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum next.

Overview

The work is a printed portrait belonging to the H Beard Print Collection, executed in 1750. Though the image depicts a 16th‑century monarch, the print itself originates from the mid‑18th century and is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Subject & Meaning

The figure represented is Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, a dominant political leader of the early modern period. The portrait presents him in a formal, authoritative pose, emphasizing his status as a ruler whose influence extended across Europe.

Technique & Style

Printed by the London firm J. & P. Knapton, the image reflects a Romantic‑era interpretation of an earlier source. The engraving employs fine line work and chiaroscuro shading to convey texture and depth, typical of mid‑18th‑century printmaking.

History & Provenance

The Knapton brothers, active printers in London, produced the print based on an older portrait that may predate their edition. The work entered the H Beard Print Collection and was later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains on display.

Context

Created well after Charles V’s death, the print illustrates the 18th‑century fascination with historic monarchs. Its Romantic sensibility aligns with contemporary interests in reviving and re‑imagining figures from the past for an audience far removed from their original era.