Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Richter. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The work is a full‑length printed portrait depicting Mrs Günther‑Bachmann in the role of Marie from the operatic piece *The Daughter of the Regiment*. Produced in the late eighteenth to early nineteenth century, the image is part of the H Beard Print Collection and is presently conserved by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures the actress in costume, illustrating the theatrical conventions of the period. By presenting a recognizable stage character, the print offers insight into contemporary performance aesthetics and the visual representation of operatic heroines.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the image employs the subtle tonal transitions associated with the sfumato method, softening edges to suggest depth and atmosphere. This approach reflects the printmaking practices of the era, which often borrowed painterly effects to enhance narrative detail.
History & Provenance
Attributed to an artist identified as Richter, the piece entered the H Beard Print Collection before being acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum. Its documented provenance traces back to the period when theatrical portraiture was a popular means of disseminating stage imagery.
Context
*The Daughter of the Regiment* was a widely performed opera in the late 1700s, and portraits of its leading roles were commonly reproduced for audiences. This print thus serves as a visual record of both the production’s costume design and the broader cultural interest in operatic stars.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist made prints in the 1700s and 1800s, a time when artists often copied famous paintings or sculptures onto paper.
