Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist Nicola Michetti. It dates from 1729 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The print, catalogued as PXII, is one of a series of twelve engravings documenting the 1729 staging of the opera *Festa Teatrale*.
About this work
This print comes from a series of twelve. It shows a staged opera scene from 1729. The print is by Nicola Michetti and is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The opera celebrated the birth of a royal heir. It was written for a Roman audience. The print captures an outdoor setting with pillars and two characters talking.
Look up the Baroque movement next.
Overview
The print, catalogued as PXII, is one of a series of twelve engravings documenting the 1729 staging of the opera *Festa Teatrale*. Produced for the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Harry Beard Collection, the image records a scene from the three‑act work that honored the birth of Louis, the Dauphin, son of King Louis XV.
Subject & Meaning
The depicted tableau presents an outdoor setting framed by ruined columns, where a woman dressed in contemporary eighteenth‑century fashion engages in conversation with an armored soldier. The encounter reflects the opera’s celebratory narrative, linking the historic figure of Emperor Charlemagne to the contemporary royal birth.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraved print, the image employs fine line work to render architectural ruin and costume detail, characteristic of Baroque theatrical design. The composition balances architectural framing with the figures’ interaction, emphasizing depth and drama typical of stage scenery of the period.
History & Provenance
The series was designed by architect Nicola Michetti, who also created the stage sets for the original production. The libretto was authored by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and the music composed by Giovanni Battista Costanzi. The prints were later acquired by the Harry Beard Collection and are now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
Staged in Rome, *Festa Teatrale* was intended for a courtly audience and served as a political celebration of the French heir’s birth. Its production combined the talents of an architect, a cardinal‑librettist, and a composer, illustrating the collaborative nature of Baroque opera.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicola Michetti was the kind of guy who could turn a stiff royal portrait into a party.
