Who painted H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection was painted by Pierre Noël Violet in 24.

Where can I see H Beard Print Collection?

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

What movement is H Beard Print Collection?

H Beard Print Collection is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

H Beard Print Collection

Pierre Noël Violet , 24

H Beard Print Collection is a print by the Romanticist artist Pierre Noël Violet. It dates from 24 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

It was made in 1791 by Pierre Noël Violet, a printmaker working in London.

This print shows a stage actor in costume from a popular opera. It was made in 1791 by Pierre Noël Violet, a printmaker working in London. The picture captures one moment in a play called *La Belle Pescatrice*.

It’s one of many portraits Violet made of performers. This one focuses on Lorenzo Cipriani in the role of Don Alfonso Scoglio.

Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see where this print lives.

Overview

This 1791 print, produced in London by the engraver Pierre Noël Violet, portrays the Italian stage actor Lorenzo Cipriani in costume as Don Alfonso Scoglio from the opera *La Belle Pescatrice*. The image captures a single scene from the performance, presenting the actor in full theatrical attire.

Subject & Meaning

The work functions as a visual record of a specific theatrical role, highlighting Cipriani’s portrayal of the comic character Don Alfonso Scoglio. By fixing the actor’s likeness and costume, the print serves both as a portrait and as documentation of contemporary operatic staging.

Technique & Style

Violet employed the printmaking techniques common to late‑18th‑century London, likely using a combination of line engraving and stipple to render fine details of costume and facial expression. The style balances realistic portraiture with the decorative flair typical of theatrical prints of the period.

History & Provenance

The print was issued by the London publisher J.F. Tomkins shortly after the opera’s performance. It entered the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of theatrical ephemera.

Context

During the 1790s, London’s theatrical scene attracted a growing audience for opera and drama, and prints of popular performers were widely circulated. Violet’s series of actor portraits catered to this demand, providing patrons with a tangible souvenir of celebrated stage appearances.