Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by John Redington. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Redington’s New Fours Combats, No.
About this work
Overview
Redington’s New Fours Combats, No. 68, is a four‑colour print that depicts a series of staged duels. Each panel presents a pair of combatants locked in a moment of confrontation, arranged as a compact theatrical tableau.
Subject & Meaning
The work pairs fictional or historical figures in imagined battles: Kirk Patrick against Gilbert, Hubert versus Zingara, Edgar confronting Selim, and the literary rivals Macduff and Macbeth. The juxtaposition of these characters suggests a playful exploration of conflict and narrative drama.
Technique & Style
Executed in a four‑colour printing process, the image relies on bold outlines and flat areas of hue to delineate the figures and their surroundings. The composition emphasizes symmetry, with each duel framed similarly, reinforcing the series’ systematic approach to depicting combat.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to a series produced by the publisher J. Redington, known for issuing a range of combat‑scene prints in the 19th century. Numbered as the sixty‑eighth entry, it reflects Redington’s ongoing interest in popular theatrical and literary subjects.
Context
During the period, such prints served both as affordable visual entertainment and as illustrations of popular narratives, often displayed in homes or public venues. The inclusion of characters like Macduff and Macbeth ties the work to Shakespearean themes that were widely recognized by contemporary audiences.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Redington spent his mornings in a Covent Garden print shop where actors came to buy cheap likenesses of themselves.
