Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist S. W. Fores. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The print, produced by the London publisher S.
About this work
This print shows a cozy scene from around 1830. A chin musician plays while his wife strums a guitar and a violinist joins in. It’s a lighthearted look at everyday music-making.
The print was made by S. W. Fores in London. The scene features real people: Michael Boai on chin music, his wife on guitar, and M. Engels on violin.
Look next at prints by S. W. Fores.
Overview
The print, produced by the London publisher S.W. Fores in the early 1830s, captures an informal musical gathering. At its centre is Michael Boai, identified as a chin‑instrument player, accompanied by his wife on guitar and a violinist named M. Engels. The composition presents a domestic, light‑hearted scene of amateur music‑making typical of the period’s genre prints.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts three identifiable individuals engaged in a casual performance, suggesting the social role of music within middle‑class households. By portraying a family unit and a fellow musician, the image underscores the communal pleasure of shared entertainment and the accessibility of music beyond concert halls, reflecting contemporary values of conviviality and domestic culture.
Technique & Style
Executed as a printed image, the piece employs line work and shading characteristic of early nineteenth‑century British printmaking. Fores’ hand is evident in the clear delineation of figures and the balanced arrangement of the trio, while the modest tonal range conveys a sense of intimacy without elaborate ornamentation.
History & Provenance
Issued by S.W. Fores, a notable London publisher of prints and caricatures, the image likely circulated as part of a series documenting everyday life. The inclusion of real names—Michael Boai, his wife, and M. Engels—suggests the print may have been based on a specific event or known local musicians, though further documentation of its original ownership remains scarce.
Context
Genre prints of this era often celebrated ordinary scenes, contrasting with the grand historical subjects favored by academic painters. This work aligns with that tradition, offering a snapshot of popular leisure activities in a rapidly urbanising Britain, where public and private music‑making became a marker of respectable recreation.
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…
