Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist J.R. Smith. It dates from 21 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
This print shows Anne Brown playing Clara in a play from 1775. It’s a portrait but also a show piece. J.R. Smith made it the same year Clara’s lines were printed.
Clara hides her face behind a veil. The veil is the key—it hides and hints at the same time. Sheridan wrote the play, but Smith chose the moment.
Look up the Romanticism movement next.
Overview
This print is part of the H Beard Print Collection and features Anne Brown as Clara from Richard Sheridan's play The Duenna.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts Anne Brown veiled, playing Clara in a 1775 production. The veil conceals and suggests her expression, creating a nuanced portrayal.
Technique & Style
The printmaker, J.R. Smith, selected a specific moment from the play, exercising artistic control over the representation.
History & Provenance
The print was created in 1775, the same year Clara's dialogue was published, indicating a close connection between the play's publication and the print's production.
Artist & collection
Artist
Earl Joseph "J. R." Smith III is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Smith played high school basketball at New Jersey basketball powerhouse Saint Benedict's…
