Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Roberto. It dates from 5 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows a full-length portrait of a man named Mr Dodd. The artist Roberto made it in 1794. It’s a print, so it was copied from a drawing or painting, not drawn straight onto the paper.
Prints were a popular way to share images. They let many people see the same picture at once. This one sits in the Victoria and Albert Museum today.
Look up the artist Roberto next.
Overview
The work, titled H Beard Print Collection, is a full‑length portrait executed as a print in 1794. It depicts a figure identified as Mr Dodd, presented in the guise of Campley. The image is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, where it is displayed among other examples of late‑eighteenth‑century printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Mr Dodd assuming the character of Campley, a reference that would have been recognizable to contemporary viewers. By portraying the sitter in a costumed or theatrical role, the image reflects the period’s interest in persona, satire, and the social practice of adopting alter egos for portraiture.
Technique & Style
Created by the hand of the artist known as Roberto, the piece is a reproductive print, derived from an original drawing or painting rather than being drawn directly on the paper. The method allowed for multiple copies, employing the line work and shading typical of late‑Georgian print techniques to convey texture and form.
History & Provenance
Roberto produced the print in 1794, a time when prints served as a primary means of disseminating visual culture. The work entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings through acquisition (specific details of purchase are not recorded here) and remains a representative example of the era’s print circulation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Roberto is an Italian, Portuguese and Spanish variation of the male given name Robert.
