Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Impressionist artist Henry Marriott Paget. It dates from 16 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The item is a printed page from the 16 December 1893 issue of the weekly illustrated newspaper *The Graphic*.
About this work
This print shows a scene from a 1893 magazine. It’s from *The Graphic*, a weekly paper. A Count looks into a witch’s magic mirror in Schumann’s opera *Genoveva*.
The print was made by Paget for the issue’s page 741. It’s one of just a few pages saved in the Harry Beard Collection.
Check out more prints by Paget, Henry Marriott at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The item is a printed page from the 16 December 1893 issue of the weekly illustrated newspaper *The Graphic*. It occupies page 741 of that issue and depicts a theatrical scene from Robert Schumann’s opera *Genoveva*.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration shows Count Siegfried consulting the witch Margaret’s magical mirror, a moment staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The image captures the dramatic tension of the opera’s supernatural element.
Technique & Style
The print was executed by the artist Paget, employing the line‑work and shading typical of late‑Victorian newspaper illustration. The composition balances detailed figure rendering with a clear narrative focus, suitable for reproduction in a mass‑circulation periodical.
History & Provenance
The page forms part of the Harry Beard Collection, a small assemblage of *The Graphic* pages preserved from the era. The reverse side, page 742, contains contemporary articles, indicating the page’s original bound context.
Context
*The Graphic* was known for its high‑quality visual reporting of cultural events, including theatre productions. The 1893 issue coincided with a notable performance of *Genoveva* at Drury Lane, reflecting the newspaper’s role in documenting London’s artistic life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Henry Marriott Paget (1856–1936) was a British painter and illustrator, who signed his work "HMP". Paget, along with his brothers, Sidney Paget and Walter Paget, provided illustrations for works by Arthur Conan Doyle.
