Print Collection

The image was created through copperplate engraving, a process in which the artist incised lines into a metal plate that were then inked and pressed onto paper. The resulting work is characterized by fine linear detail and a restrained tonal range typical of late‑Victorian portrait prints.

Engraved in the late 1800s, the print was likely issued for commercial distribution, allowing admirers to acquire a likeness of Valleria. It entered the museum’s holdings as part of a larger acquisition of printed material, reflecting the period’s interest in collectible portrait prints.

During the Victorian era, engraved portraits of performers were common, serving both promotional and commemorative purposes. Montague Chatterton & Co. specialized in such reproductions, catering to a market eager for affordable images of cultural figures.