Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Joseph Mathias Negelen. It dates from 21 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print is called H Beard Print Collection.
It was made by Joseph Mathias Negelen in 1835.
The print is held at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and it's a portrait of Giulia Grisi, drawn from life.
I don't know what Giulia Grisi looks like in the print.
The artist published it in London with J. Mitchell.
This print is part of the Romanticism movement.
Check out the movement Romanticism.
Overview
The work is a printed portrait of the 19th‑century opera singer Giulia Grisi, executed by the German‑born artist Joseph Mathias Negelen in 1835. Produced as a lithographic print, it was issued in London on 21 May of that year by the publisher J. Mitchell and now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
Giulia Grisi, celebrated for her dramatic soprano roles, is depicted from life, suggesting a direct engagement between artist and sitter. The portrait captures her likeness in a manner typical of Romantic portraiture, emphasizing individual character and emotional presence rather than formal idealisation.
Technique & Style
Negelen employed the print medium—likely lithography—to render fine line work and tonal variation, allowing for a relatively swift reproduction of a life‑study. The handling of light and shadow reflects Romantic sensibilities, favouring expressive contrast over strict academic precision.
History & Provenance
After its initial London publication by J. Mitchell, the print entered the Harry Beard Collection, a private assemblage of 19th‑century prints. It was later acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains catalogued as part of their print and drawing holdings.
Context
Created during the height of Romanticism, the portrait aligns with the era’s interest in individual genius and emotive representation. Prints such as this served both as artistic works and as means of disseminating the images of prominent cultural figures like Grisi to a broader public.
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Mathias Negelen made prints in the first half of the 19th century. His only verified work here is the H Beard Print Collection from 21 May 1835. It’s a print, likely a portrait or topical illustration typical of…
