Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by G.E. Madeley. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This lithographic print, created by G.
About this work
Overview
This lithographic print, created by G.E. Madeley, depicts the actress Mrs. Tayleure in costume as Madame la Marquise de Villecour. The image records a performance of the play “Promotion” staged at London’s Olympic Theatre. It is catalogued within the H Beard Print Collection, a grouping of works assembled for their relevance to theatrical portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Mrs. Tayleure embodying the aristocratic character of the Marquise, a role that highlighted contemporary fashions and theatrical conventions of the early nineteenth‑century stage. By presenting the actress in full costume, the print serves both as a visual record of a specific production and as a promotional image for the play.
Technique & Style
Executed as a lithograph, the work employs the characteristic tonal range of the medium, allowing fine detail in the costume’s fabrics and facial expression. Madeley’s handling of line and shading reflects the commercial portrait style common in theatre prints, where clarity and recognizability were paramount.
History & Provenance
The image entered the H Beard Print Collection, a private assemblage noted for its focus on performance‑related prints. The collection’s acquisition suggests the print was valued for documenting notable theatrical events and personalities of its era.
Context
Printed during a period when lithography became a popular means of disseminating images of stage productions, the work aligns with the broader Victorian interest in theatre as public entertainment. Such prints were often sold as souvenirs or displayed in venues to attract audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
English printmaker active in the early 1800s, G.E. Madeley carved small scenes and portraits in the Beard tradition. Look at the 1st May 1824 print to see hand-colored stippling and crisp linework. The collection also…
