Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Balliol Salmon. It dates from 22 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
It’s a snapshot of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” staged in Regent’s Park with gas-light lighting from the era.
This print shows a scene from a 1901 play put on outdoors. It’s a snapshot of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” staged in Regent’s Park with gas-light lighting from the era. The artist used a drawing to make this print.
The show used limelight, a bright early stage light, to shine on the actors. Ice skaters appear in the background, adding to the festive, mixed-entertainment vibe of the time.
Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works from this period.
Overview
This print, executed by Balliol Salmon, reproduces a drawing that records a 1901 outdoor staging of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in London’s Regent’s Park. The image was circulated through the illustrated newspaper The Graphic, offering contemporary viewers a visual account of the production’s distinctive lighting and festive atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures actors illuminated by limelight, an early high‑intensity gas flame used to focus bright illumination on the stage. In the background, ice‑skaters glide, reflecting the era’s penchant for combining theatrical performance with other popular amusements, creating a tableau that celebrates both the play’s pastoral charm and the public’s appetite for varied leisure.
Technique & Style
Salmon translated his original sketch into a printable matrix, employing line work and tonal shading characteristic of early twentieth‑century illustration. The print reproduces the contrast between the stark, focused glow of the limelight and the softer, diffused lighting of the surrounding park, emphasizing the technological novelty of stage illumination at the time.
History & Provenance
Issued as part of The Graphic’s coverage of the Regent’s Park production, the print entered the public domain as a visual record of Edwardian theatre. It later became part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection, where it is catalogued among other period prints documenting performance culture.
Context
At the turn of the century, London’s open‑air theatres often incorporated novel lighting methods such as limelight to enhance visibility after dusk. The inclusion of ice‑skating exhibitions alongside drama reflects the mixed‑entertainment programmes popular in public parks, catering to a broad audience seeking both high art and popular diversion.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arthur John Balliol Salmon was a British artist particularly noted for his illustrations and his work in pencil, chalk and pastels.
