Not currently on display at the V&A

H Beard Print Collection

Print
1735 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Hudson, Thomas (painter)
Vanhaecken, Alex (engraver)
Place of origin
Great Britain (printed)

Head and torso portrait of Francesco Bernardi (?1680-?1750), also know as 'Il Senesino'.

Castrati singers were very popular in the 18th century The first Italian castrato stars to visit England were Valentini and Nicolini. Nicolini sang the title role of Handel's Rinaldo in 1711. Other major stars included Senesino and Farinelli.


Object details

Categories
Entertainment & Leisure
Prints
Object type
Print
TitleH Beard Print Collection (named collection)
Materials and techniques
clipped mezzotint
Paper
Printing Ink
Print-Making
Clipping
Mezzotint
Brief description
Three-quarters portrait of Francesco Bernardi Senesino(1686-1758), engraving by Alexander Van Haecken (1701-1757) after a painting by Thomas Hudson (1701-1779), Harry Beard Collection
Physical description
Head and torso portrait of Francesco Bernardi, also know as 'Il Senesino'.
Dimensions
  • Print size height: 35.6cm
  • Print size width: 24.9cm
  • Total including mount height: 54.8cm
  • Total including mount width: 39.5cm
Credit line
Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard
Subject depicted
Bernardi, Francesco
Summary
Head and torso portrait of Francesco Bernardi (?1680-?1750), also know as 'Il Senesino'.

Castrati singers were very popular in the 18th century The first Italian castrato stars to visit England were Valentini and Nicolini. Nicolini sang the title role of Handel's Rinaldo in 1711. Other major stars included Senesino and Farinelli.
Associated object
S.173-2009 (Duplicate)
Other number
F.80-26 - H Beard collection numbering
Collection
Theatre and Performance Collection
Accession number
S.1902-2009

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Record createdFebruary 3, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O185960/h-beard-print-collection-print-hudson-thomas/
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