Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist John Fairburn. It dates from 21 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It pokes fun at a real scandal from 1825 between actor Edmund Kean and a married woman named Charlotte Cox.
This print shows a theater scene full of clutter and costumes. It pokes fun at a real scandal from 1825 between actor Edmund Kean and a married woman named Charlotte Cox. Published by John Fairburn, the image is part of the Romanticism movement.
The artist used satire to expose the messy side of celebrity gossip. The print is now owned by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Want to dig deeper? Look up the artist John Fairburn.
Overview
This print, part of the H Beard Print Collection, is a satirical image published in 1825 by John Fairburn. It depicts a chaotic theater scene, referencing a contemporary scandal.
Subject & Meaning
The image satirizes the affair between actor Edmund Kean and Charlotte Cox, a married woman, using the setting of a theatrical dressing room to convey the scandal.
Technique & Style
The print is characteristic of the Romanticism movement, employing satire to comment on celebrity culture and gossip.
History & Provenance
Published by John Fairburn, the print is now held in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Fairburn made mid-1820s prints you’ll find in the H Beard Print Collection: three dated January 21 1825, July 1826, and roughly the same era.
