Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by Johnson, C. in 1740.

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 Baroque.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

Johnson, C. , 1740

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist Johnson, C.. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. An etched portrait print from the Harry Beard Collection depicts Mr.

About this work

Overview

An etched portrait print from the Harry Beard Collection depicts Mr. Mynheer Wybrand Lolkes and his wife, Madame Lolkes. The work was published by C. Johnson and belongs to a series known as Men in Miniature from West Friesland, which focused on regional figures of modest social standing. The print is a single-sheet engraving, typical of 18th-century portraiture meant for domestic display.

Subject & Meaning

Their inclusion in the series suggests a cultural interest in documenting local families of respectable, though not aristocratic, status.

The subjects are identified as a married couple from West Friesland, noted for having three living children who were all baptized. Their inclusion in the series suggests a cultural interest in documenting local families of respectable, though not aristocratic, status. The emphasis on offspring reflects contemporary values around family continuity and religious observance in provincial Dutch society.

Technique & Style

The image is rendered in fine-line etching, a method allowing detailed facial features and textile textures. The composition is formal, with both figures facing forward in modest attire, typical of bourgeois portraiture. Background elements are minimal, directing focus to the couple’s expressions and posture, conveying dignity without ornamentation.

History & Provenance

The print originates from the Harry Beard Collection, assembled in the 19th century by a British collector of Dutch and Flemish graphic art. Its presence in this collection indicates its circulation as a specimen of regional Dutch portraiture, likely acquired for its documentary rather than artistic value. No earlier provenance beyond the publisher C. Johnson is documented.

Context

Produced during a period when printed portraits of local notables were popular in the Netherlands, this work reflects a trend of elevating ordinary citizens through visual representation. Unlike grand aristocratic commissions, these prints served as affordable mementos, reinforcing community identity and familial pride in provincial towns like those in West Friesland.

Legacy

The print survives as a record of non-elite Dutch life in the 18th century, offering insight into how ordinary families were visually commemorated. While not attributed to a renowned artist, its preservation in the Beard Collection underscores its role as a cultural artifact, illustrating the reach of print culture beyond urban centers.

Artist & collection

Artist

Johnson, C.

C. Johnson never signed a single print—maybe because she was too busy running a tavern by the Thames where artists swapped sketches for ale. She carved her scenes on beech blocks at night, inking the same thick lines…