Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by Charles Shirreff in 12.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

Charles Shirreff , 12

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Charles Shirreff. It dates from 12 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

It captures a moment from James Thomson’s drama Tancred and Sigismunda.

This print shows actors in a famous play scene. Mrs. Siddons and Mr. Kemble pose as two lovers from an old tragedy. She wears a long, soft gown with a ribbon at her chest. He stands close, offering her a letter in his soldier’s uniform.

The image comes from a 1785 engraving tied to Romanticism. It captures a moment from James Thomson’s drama Tancred and Sigismunda.

Next, check out the Romanticism movement.

Overview

The print is an 1785 engraving depicting a theatrical scene from James Thomson’s tragedy *Tancred and Sigmund*; it features the celebrated actors Mrs. Sarah Siddhins and her husband, Mr. John Kemble, in the roles of the lovers Sigismunda and Tancred. The image belongs to the Harry Beard collection and is executed as a single‑plate print.

Subject & Meaning

In the composition, Siddhins appears as Sigismunda, dressed in a flowing empire‑style gown with three‑quarter sleeves and a broad ribbon at the bust, while Kemble, as Tancred, stands beside her in a soldier’s uniform, extending a letter that she is about to receive. The moment captures the dramatic tension of the lovers’ reunion.

Technique & Style

The work is an engraving, a line‑based printmaking method that allows fine detail and tonal variation. The artist rendered the fabrics and facial expressions with delicate hatching, characteristic of late‑eighteenth‑century Romantic visual culture, emphasizing emotion and theatricality.

History & Provenance

Created in 1785, the print was produced shortly after the original stage performance, capitalising on the fame of Siddhins and Kemble. It entered the Harry Beard collection, a private assemblage of theatrical prints, and has been catalogued as part of that series.

Context

*Tancred and Sigismunda* was a popular tragedy in the 18th century, and its staging by the Kemble‑Siddhins partnership was a notable cultural event. The engraving reflects the period’s fascination with Romantic drama and the celebrity of leading actors, serving both as a souvenir and a visual record of the performance.