Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist S. W. Fores. It dates from 1817 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It shows Edmund Kean and Junius Booth as they competed to play Richard III on London’s biggest stages.
This print pokes fun at two famous actors. It shows Edmund Kean and Junius Booth as they competed to play Richard III on London’s biggest stages. A silly three-headed jester rides a donkey behind them, laughing at their rivalry.
Londoners in 1817 loved theater gossip, and this print sold it fast. It came out the same year the actors’ feud hit its peak.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more prints from this time.
Overview
This print, part of the H Beard Print Collection, is a satirical depiction of a rivalry between two actors. It was published in 1817 by S.W. Fores.
Subject & Meaning
The print, titled 'The Rival Richards', shows Edmund Kean and Junius Brutus Booth competing to play Richard III. A three-headed jester, representing Folly, rides a donkey behind them, mocking their rivalry.
History & Provenance
Published during a peak in the actors' feud, the print capitalized on Londoners' interest in theater gossip. It is one of many prints from this period, with the Victoria and Albert Museum holding additional examples.
Artist & collection
Artist
This printmaker carved out a lively slice of British history in black and white. Between 1802 and 1818 they turned news and politics into small broadside prints on single sheets, often stamped with the H Beard Print…
