Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Messrs. Cadell & Davies. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a printed portrait of Robert Smirke, Esq.
About this work
Overview
The work is a printed portrait of Robert Smirke, Esq., a Royal Academician noted for his contributions to British painting and architecture. Produced by the publishing firm Cadell & Davies, the image is accompanied by a single sheet containing biographical details, turning the piece into both a visual and documentary record of the artist’s career.
Subject & Meaning
Robert Smirke (1752–1845) is depicted in a formal pose typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture, emphasizing his status as a respected member of the Royal Academy. The attached biographical page provides context for his artistic achievements and architectural projects, allowing viewers to connect the likeness with the narrative of his professional life.
Technique & Style
The portrait is executed as a print, a medium widely used for disseminating images of notable figures in the period. Cadell & Davies, known for high‑quality engraving and publishing, likely employed line engraving or etching techniques to render Smirke’s features with clarity, while the accompanying text is printed in a legible, single‑page format.
History & Provenance
The exact date of production remains uncertain, though the involvement of Cadell & Davies places the work within the firm’s active years in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The print is part of the H Beard Print Collection and is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, where it is catalogued as a representative example of portrait prints linked to the Royal Academy.
Artist & collection
Artist
They printed news as fast as the gossip spread—Edinburgh’s daily scandals rendered in stark black-and-white, ink still wet when the papers hit the streets.
