Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist S. W. Fores. It dates from 21 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print pokes fun at a real 1823 wedding. It shows Edward Hughes Ball marrying a Spanish dancer named Maria Mercandotti. The artist used a satirical title to mock the match.
Published by S. W. Fores in 1823, it’s a political cartoon wrapped as a print. The humor lands on class, money, and celebrity weddings.
Check out more work by S. W. Fores at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
The print titled *A New Ball et on the Tight Rope, or Matter‑o‑Money* is a satirical illustration produced in 1823 by the London publisher S. W. Fores. It caricatures the marriage of Edward Hughes Ball, a figure of the British upper class, to Maria Mercandotti, a Spanish dancer, employing humor to comment on the social and financial implications of the union.
Subject & Meaning
The image lampoons the high‑profile wedding by depicting the couple in exaggerated poses that highlight the contrast between Ball’s aristocratic background and Mercandotti’s theatrical profession. The title’s play on words suggests a precarious balance between social status and monetary considerations, reflecting contemporary anxieties about class mixing and the commodification of marriage.
Technique & Style
Executed as a print, the work utilizes line engraving and shading typical of early nineteenth‑century political cartoons. The artist employs caricature, exaggerated facial features, and symbolic props to convey satire, while the composition is organized to draw the viewer’s eye to the central figures and the surrounding commentary.
History & Provenance
Published by S. W. Fores in 1823, the print circulated as part of the publisher’s series of topical cartoons that addressed current events and societal trends. Copies of the work have been collected by institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum, which holds examples within its print and drawing collection.
Context
The marriage of Ball and Mercandotti attracted public attention as a union between a member of the British gentry and a foreign performer, a scenario that provoked debate over class boundaries and the influence of wealth on personal relationships. Satirical prints like this one served as a popular medium for public commentary on such high‑society events during the Regency era.
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…
