Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by John Opie in 4.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

John Opie , 4

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist John Opie. It dates from 4 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum online to see more prints like this.

This print shows a stage actor in full costume. It’s a British Romantic print from 1807 by John Opie. He etched the actor’s portrait after a live performance.

Small portrait sketches of the same face appear on the back. The actor played Aeneas, a Trojan hero in Virgil’s poem. Opie’s quick line work gives the print energy.

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum online to see more prints like this.

Overview

The work is a British Romantic print dated 1807, executed by John Opie. It presents a full‑length portrait of the stage actor William Henry West Betty, with two smaller likenesses affixed to the reverse side. The composition captures the performer in costume, reflecting a moment directly after a theatrical appearance.

Subject & Meaning

Betty is depicted in the role of Aeneas, the Trojan hero from Virgil’s epic poem. The portrayal emphasizes the actor’s embodiment of classical heroism, aligning the contemporary stage figure with the timeless virtues associated with the legendary founder of Rome.

Technique & Style

Opie employed etching to render the image, using swift, decisive lines that convey a sense of immediacy and vigor. The line work, characteristic of the period’s Romantic sensibility, accentuates the dynamism of the costume and the actor’s posture, suggesting movement captured in a single glance.

History & Provenance

The print forms part of the Harry Beard Collection, a compilation of works documenting early 19th‑century theatrical portraiture. Its creation shortly after a live performance indicates a practice of preserving notable stage moments for public and private audiences alike.

Artist & collection

Artist

John Opie

John Opie (16 May 1761 – 9 April 1807) was a British painter whose subjects included many prominent men and women of his day, members of the British royal family and others who were notable in the artistic and literary careers.