Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by Clarkson Frederick Stanfield. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 19th‑century engraved portrait depicts J.
About this work
Engraved portraits were a common way to share someone’s face before cameras.
This is an engraved portrait print from the 19th century.
It shows J. De Castro, as the Victoria and Albert Museum records.
The print belongs to the Harry Beard Collection.
Engraved portraits were a common way to share someone’s face before cameras.
This one is likely done in metal, since that’s typical for the time.
The artist chose to highlight the sitter’s features with careful lines.
Check out more prints from the Harry Beard Collection.
Overview
This 19th‑century engraved portrait depicts J. De Castro. Executed as a metal print, it forms part of the Harry Beard Collection, a grouping of similar works held by the museum.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a likeness of J. De Castro, rendered with precise line work that emphasizes the sitter’s facial features. As a personal portrait, it would have functioned as a visual record of his appearance in an era before photographic reproduction.
Technique & Style
The work is an intaglio engraving, a process in which lines are incised into a metal plate and then inked to produce the final print. The artist employed fine, controlled lines to model light and shadow, a hallmark of portrait engravings of the period.
History & Provenance
Recorded in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s catalogue, the print has been identified as belonging to the Harry Beard Collection, a private assemblage of 19th‑century prints that was later donated or acquired by the museum.
Artist & collection
Artist
Clarkson Frederick Stanfield (3 December 1793 – 18 May 1867) was an English artist best known for his large-scale paintings of marine art and landscapes.
