Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist G.E. Madeley. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This lithographic portrait, dated circa 1825, depicts the actor Mr.
About this work
This print shows a man playing a funny theater role. It’s a lithograph from around 1825, made by G.E. Madeley. The scene looks playful and dramatic at once.
The print is part of a bigger collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It’s labeled as a portrait of Mr. Liston dressed as Sam Swipes in a play called Exchange no Robbery.
If you like this style, check out the Romanticism movement next.
Overview
This lithographic portrait, dated circa 1825, depicts the actor Mr. Liston in costume as Sam Swipes, a character from the stage comedy Exchange no Robbery. Executed by the printmaker G.E. Madeley, the image combines theatrical flair with the technical qualities of early 19th‑century lithography. The work belongs to the print collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents Liston assuming the role of Sam Swipes, a figure associated with light‑hearted criminality in the play. By portraying the actor in character, the print captures a moment of performance, emphasizing the humor and dramatics inherent in the theatrical tradition of the period.
Technique & Style
Created through lithography, the print showcases the medium’s capacity for fine line work and tonal variation, allowing Madeley to render both the details of costume and the expressive pose of the subject. The style reflects the early Romantic interest in individual personalities and theatrical subjects, while retaining a clear, illustrative quality.
History & Provenance
The lithograph entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings as part of its broader print collection, where it is catalogued under the portrait of Mr. Liston as Sam Swipes. Its acquisition history traces back to the museum’s 19th‑century efforts to document British theatrical imagery.
Context
Exchange no Robbery was a popular comedic piece in the early 1800s, and John Liston was a well‑known comic actor of the era. Lithographic portraits of actors in role were common promotional tools, bridging the worlds of visual and performing arts and providing audiences with a visual reminder of celebrated stage productions.
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…
