Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist R.B. Peake. It dates from 1 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a full‑length portrait print depicting a male figure identified as Mr.
About this work
He’s dressed as Geoffrey Muffincap for a play called Amateurs and Actors.
This print shows a full-length portrait of a man named Mr. Wilkinson. He’s dressed as Geoffrey Muffincap for a play called Amateurs and Actors. The print was made in 1818 using a mix of techniques.
It was published by a company called Colnaghi and Co. and printed by Fearman Vignette. The print is part of the Harry Beard Collection today.
It’s a Romantic-era portrait of a stage character, not a real person. The print mixes printmaking methods to capture the role.
Look up the movement Romanticism next.
Overview
The work is a full‑length portrait print depicting a male figure identified as Mr. Wilkinson in costume as the character Geoffrey Muffincap. It was produced in 1818 for the afterpiece Amateurs and Actors, performed at the Theatre Royal English Opera House.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures Wilkinson portraying the fictional role of Geoffrey Muffincap, a comic figure from the musical entertainment. Rather than a likeness of the actor himself, the print emphasizes the theatrical persona, reflecting the Romantic fascination with performance and disguise.
Technique & Style
Created by a mixed‑method print process, the image combines line work with tonal shading to render the costume’s details. The stylistic approach aligns with early‑19th‑century Romantic portraiture, using expressive gestures and a slightly exaggerated pose to convey the character’s theatricality.
History & Provenance
The print was issued on 1 December 1818 by the London firm Colnaghi and Co., with the actual printing carried out by Fearman Vignette. It later entered the Harry Beard Collection, where it remains catalogued as part of that private assemblage.
Context
Produced during the Romantic period, the portrait illustrates the era’s interest in theatrical subjects and the blending of visual and performing arts. The afterpiece Amateurs and Actors was staged at the English Opera House, a venue known for presenting light operatic works alongside more serious repertoire.
Artist & collection
Artist
R.B. Peake made prints in early 1800s London, turning current events into quick, shareable images. One early run shows the lively crowd at “H Beard Print Collection (1st December 1818),” capturing hats, coats, and…
