Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Impressionist artist Carlo "Ape" Pellegrini. It dates from 24 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1884 chromolithographed print portrays Oscar Wilde, a renowned writer and poet, in a full-length depiction.
About this work
Wilde’s pose and the way the print was made reflect trends in Impressionism and Realism of the time.
This is a print portrait made in 1884. It shows Oscar Wilde, the writer and poet, dressed in a full-length style with a cummerbund. The print was published by Vanity Fair that same year.
The artist used chromolithography, a color printing method popular in the 1800s. Wilde’s pose and the way the print was made reflect trends in Impressionism and Realism of the time.
Look up Oscar Wilde’s other portraits at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This 1884 chromolithographed print portrays Oscar Wilde, a renowned writer and poet, in a full-length depiction. Published by Vanity Fair, it showcases Wilde wearing a cummerbund, highlighting the fashion of his time.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), is captured in a pose that reflects the artistic trends of his era. The print serves as a visual representation of Wilde's public image during his lifetime.
Technique & Style
Created using chromolithography, a prevalent 19th-century color printing technique, the print's style aligns with contemporaneous Impressionist and Realist movements, evident in Wilde's pose and the overall composition.
History & Provenance
Published on May 24, 1884, by Vanity Fair, the print is part of the Harry Beard Collection. For comparative works, see other Oscar Wilde portraits at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo Pellegrini made small prints of faces and figures, mostly for a weekly magazine called Vanity Fair between 1870 and 1889.
