Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by A. Vignola in 1850.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

H Beard Print Collection by A. Vignola (1850)

About this work

It's a print from a collection called 'Costumes of the modern age', which suggests it's part of a larger series.

The print is titled H Beard Print Collection and was created by Vignola, A. in the late 19th century.

It's a print from a collection called 'Costumes of the modern age', which suggests it's part of a larger series. This collection likely features various characters and costumes from different plays or time periods.

You can learn more about similar prints and collections by looking up the work of artist Vignola, A.

Overview

The work, titled H Beard Print Collection, is a late‑19th‑century print produced by A. Vignola. It forms part of the series Costumes of the Modern Age, which assembled visual records of theatrical dress. The image presents two figures from Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, rendered in a single sheet that functions both as a portrait and as a costume study.

Subject & Meaning

In the composition Albert Lambert appears as Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, while Mr. Caudé is shown in the role of Mr. Antoine, a secondary character in the same play. By juxtaposing these actors in their stage attire, the print highlights the period’s interest in documenting theatrical performance and the social identities conveyed through costume.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, Vignola employed line work and shading typical of late‑Victorian illustration, emphasizing the textures of fabrics and facial features. The monochrome palette focuses attention on the details of the costumes—robes, collars, and accessories—while the crisp outlines convey a sense of immediacy akin to a stage photograph.

History & Provenance

Created in the final decades of the 1800s, the print was issued within the Costumes of the Modern Age collection, a project that circulated among theatre professionals and collectors. Its provenance traces back to the original publisher’s archives, and it has since appeared in catalogues of nineteenth‑century theatrical ephemera.

Context

The series reflects a broader Victorian fascination with documenting contemporary theatre, paralleling similar costume registers in opera and ballet. By recording specific actors in role, the prints served both as promotional material and as a visual archive for costume designers, scholars, and audiences interested in the evolving aesthetics of stage dress.

Artist & collection

Artist

A. Vignola

A. Vignola seemed to wander Paris with a sketchbook and a sharp pencil, stopping in cafés to capture the hats and handbags that passed by. They left behind a quiet army of prints, each one a snapshot of a stranger’s…