Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Edwin Long. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This print reproduces Edwin Long’s portrait of the celebrated Victorian actor Henry Irving in the role of Hamlet. The image captures Irving in costume, embodying the Shakespearean prince, and was created as a print after Long’s original painted work.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents Henry Irving, the pre‑eminent stage performer of his era, assuming the tragic hero of Shakespeare’s play. By depicting Irving as Hamlet, the image underscores his reputation for powerful, emotionally resonant performances and his association with classic theatrical repertoire.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the piece translates Long’s oil painting into a reproducible format, preserving the painter’s attention to detail, tonal contrast, and the dramatic lighting that highlights Irving’s facial expression and costume.
History & Provenance
Henry Irving (1838‑1905) was the first actor to receive a knighthood, a landmark honor for the theatrical profession. The print, derived from Long’s portrait, entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of theatrical and print media.
Context
The portrait reflects the late‑19th‑century fascination with celebrity culture and the elevation of actors to public icons. It also illustrates the practice of reproducing celebrated paintings as prints to broaden their accessibility among admirers of the stage and visual arts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edwin Longsden Long was a successful English genre, history, biblical and portrait painter.
