Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist J. & P. Knapton. It dates from 1746 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1746 print depicts Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII of England.
About this work
This is a print from 1746. Two London printers, J. & P. Knapton, made it. It shows Jane Seymour, Henry VIII’s third queen.
The Knaptons were brothers who ran a busy print shop. They took turns printing books and portraits. This portrait of Jane Seymour came out in the mid-1700s.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more.
Overview
This 1746 print depicts Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII of England. Produced in London by the brothers J. & P. Knapton, the image is a portrait that reflects the 18th‑century interest in Tudor history. The work is executed as a printed image rather than a painted canvas, typical of the period’s commercial portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
Jane Seymour, who married Henry VIII in 1536 and died shortly after giving birth to the future Edward VI, is presented here in a formal, idealized manner. The portrait emphasizes her status as queen, aligning her with the regal iconography of the Tudor court while catering to the 18th‑century fascination with royal lineage.
Technique & Style
The Knapton brothers employed copperplate engraving, a common printmaking method of the time, to render fine lines and delicate shading. Their approach balances detailed facial features with broader, decorative elements in the costume, reflecting the neoclassical taste that prevailed in mid‑century London print workshops.
History & Provenance
Printed by J. & P. Knapton, a prominent London printing firm run by two brothers who produced both literary works and portrait prints, the image entered the market as part of a series of historical figures. The print later entered museum collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains documented as part of their print holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
J. & P. Knapton made printed portraits and scenes in mid-1700s London, the kind you’d find in shop windows or gentlemen’s clubs. Their 1746 engraving in the H Beard Print Collection shows a finely dressed figure—maybe a…
