Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist The Illustrated London News. It dates from 1 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1846 print depicts a scene from 'The Pas des Deesses' performed at Her Majesty's Theatre.
About this work
It shows four dancers on stage: three women in matching dresses and a man leaping behind them.
This print captures a ballet scene from 1846. It shows four dancers on stage: three women in matching dresses and a man leaping behind them. The women wear roses and simple headresses while the man holds a rose and performs a jump.
It was published in The Illustrated London News. That weekly paper often printed illustrations of theater and dance.
Look up The Illustrated London News to see more of their work.
Overview
This 1846 print depicts a scene from 'The Pas des Deesses' performed at Her Majesty's Theatre. Four dancers are shown: three women in a line and a leaping male dancer behind them.
Subject & Meaning
The illustration captures a pivotal moment in the ballet, featuring prominent dancers of the time, including Louise Taglioni, Lucile Grahn, and Cerito. The male dancer's pose and the women's attire, adorned with roses, reflect the ballet's choreography and costume design.
Technique & Style
The print, published in The Illustrated London News, exemplifies the newspaper's characteristic theater and dance illustrations. The artist's use of detail, such as the snake-staff in the background, highlights the ballet's narrative elements.
History & Provenance
Part of the Harry Beard Collection, this print was originally published in The Illustrated London News in 1846, documenting a specific performance of 'The Pas des Deesses' at Her Majesty's Theatre.
Context
As part of The Illustrated London News's coverage, the print reflects the newspaper's role in popularizing theater and dance events among a broad Victorian audience.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Illustrated London News, founded by Herbert Ingram and first published on Saturday 14 May 1842, was the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine.
