Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist Richard van Bleeck. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The print depicts Mr.
About this work
This print shows Mr. Kellom Tomlinson in 1716. Richard van Bleeck made it using engraving. It’s part of a bigger set called the H Beard Print Collection.
The work belongs to the Baroque period, known for dramatic lighting and detail. It’s held today at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Curious about prints from this era? Look up the technique called chiaroscuro.
Overview
The print depicts Mr. Kellom Tomlinson and dates from 1716. Executed as an engraving by the Dutch artist Richard van Bleeck, it forms part of the larger H Beard Print Collection. The work is presently conserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it is displayed among other early‑18th‑century prints.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Mr. Kellom Tomlinson in a formal pose typical of early‑modern portraiture, emphasizing his social standing through attire and bearing. While no narrative scene accompanies the image, the careful rendering of facial features and clothing conveys a sense of individual identity and status within the period’s visual conventions.
Technique & Style
Van Bleeck employed the engraving process, incising lines into a metal plate to produce multiple impressions. The image exhibits hallmark Baroque qualities, notably strong contrasts of light and shadow that model the figure’s form. This chiaroscuro effect enhances depth and drama, aligning the work with contemporary approaches to rendering three‑dimensionality on paper.
History & Provenance
Created in the early eighteenth century, the print entered the H Beard Print Collection, a curated assemblage of prints assembled for study and appreciation. Over time it passed through various private hands before being acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s print and drawing holdings.
Context
The portrait emerges from the Baroque period, a time when artists emphasized dynamic composition, rich detail, and theatrical lighting. Engravings like this served both as records of notable individuals and as disseminated artworks, reflecting the growing demand for affordable, reproducible images among the educated classes of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard van Bleeck made engravings in early 1700s London, printing portraits and book illustrations on copper plates.
