Not currently on display at the V&A

Jenny Lind in La Sonnambula

Print
1st October 1847 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Johanna Maria Lind (1820-1887), known as Jenny Lind, played her first major operatic role in 1838 as Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz at the Royal Swedish Opera. Her exquisite voice made her in demand all over Europe in the 1840s. Her first appearance in London at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1847, in an Italian version of Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable attended by Queen Victoria, saw people thronging the streets to get a glimpse of her. A concert tour of the United States managed by P.T. Barnum in 1850-1851 also saw her become well know there as 'the Swedish Nightingale'. She retired from the stage when she returned to Europe in 1852 but continued to make concert appearances, and made her home in London where she was appointed a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music.

This print appears to show Jenny Lind wearing two bracelets identical to that given to the museum in 1987 (S.525-1987), but not the necklace.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJenny Lind in La Sonnambula (published title)
Materials and techniques
Print, printed ink on paper
Brief description
Print depicting the singer Jenny Lind (1820-1887) in La Sonnambula, published by David Bogue, London, 1st October 1847, Harry Beard Collection
Physical description
Print depicting Jenny Lind, half-length portrait. Lind is shown in costume, with her arms crossed over her chest.
Dimensions
  • Height: 23.7cm
  • Width: 15.6cm
Print only
Marks and inscriptions
Credit line
Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard
Subject depicted
Association
Literary referenceLa Sonnambula
Summary
Johanna Maria Lind (1820-1887), known as Jenny Lind, played her first major operatic role in 1838 as Agathe in Weber's Der Freischütz at the Royal Swedish Opera. Her exquisite voice made her in demand all over Europe in the 1840s. Her first appearance in London at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1847, in an Italian version of Meyerbeer's Robert le Diable attended by Queen Victoria, saw people thronging the streets to get a glimpse of her. A concert tour of the United States managed by P.T. Barnum in 1850-1851 also saw her become well know there as 'the Swedish Nightingale'. She retired from the stage when she returned to Europe in 1852 but continued to make concert appearances, and made her home in London where she was appointed a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music.

This print appears to show Jenny Lind wearing two bracelets identical to that given to the museum in 1987 (S.525-1987), but not the necklace.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
S.1186-2013

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Record createdApril 4, 2013
Record URL
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