Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Baroque artist Jean Baptiste Vanloo. It dates from 1740 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This 1740 print depicts two figures side by side: Colley Cibber Esq.
About this work
This print shows a man and a woman side by side. The artist used fine lines to shape the faces and clothes. The man looks straight ahead while the woman faces slightly left.
It was made in 1740 by Jean Baptiste Vanloo. The print belongs to a big collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Next time you’re in London, look up the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Overview
This 1740 print depicts two figures side by side: Colley Cibber Esq. and an unidentified woman. Created by Jean Baptiste Vanloo, the work is part of the H Beard Print Collection housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays Colley Cibber, a notable figure, alongside a woman whose identity remains unknown. Their contrasting gazes—the man's direct engagement and the woman's slight leftward turn—may imply distinct personalities or roles.
Technique & Style
Vanloo employed fine lines to delineate the subjects' facial features and attire, characteristic of the precise draftsmanship common in 18th-century portraiture.
History & Provenance
Dating to 1740, the print is attributed to Jean Baptiste Vanloo. It is now part of the extensive H Beard Print Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Baptiste Vanloo kept a pet monkey named Coco who loved stealing his paintbrushes mid-stroke.
