H Beard Print Collection
Print
1st January 1802 (published)
1st January 1802 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Print entitled 'Clara - a Bravura', a portrait of Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel). Published in London by S. W. Fores.
Elizabeth Billington (1768-1818) was one of the most popular and highly paid opera singers of her day. After a triumphant debut at Covent Garden in 1786 she received a salary of £1000 to appear at the theatre for a season, and in 1801, after a period in Italy, she was in such demand in London that it was arranged for her to make alternate performances at Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres. Her first 1801 performance was as Mandane, daughter of King Xerxes in Thomas Arne's opera Artaxerxes, and Gilray's caricature shows her in this role. Mrs Billington was known for her wide vocal range, which was shown to good effect in the opera's celebrated aria, The Soldier, tir'd of War's Alarms.
Elizabeth Billington (1768-1818) was one of the most popular and highly paid opera singers of her day. After a triumphant debut at Covent Garden in 1786 she received a salary of £1000 to appear at the theatre for a season, and in 1801, after a period in Italy, she was in such demand in London that it was arranged for her to make alternate performances at Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres. Her first 1801 performance was as Mandane, daughter of King Xerxes in Thomas Arne's opera Artaxerxes, and Gilray's caricature shows her in this role. Mrs Billington was known for her wide vocal range, which was shown to good effect in the opera's celebrated aria, The Soldier, tir'd of War's Alarms.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | H Beard Print Collection (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | hand coloured etching, ink and wash on paper |
| Brief description | Print entitled 'Clara - a Bravura', a portrait of Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel). Published in London by S. W. Fores on 4th January 1802, Harry Beard Collection. |
| Physical description | Etched and hand coloured full length portrait of Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel). Print entitled 'Clara - a Bravura'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Print entitled 'Clara - a Bravura', a portrait of Elizabeth Billington (née Weichsel). Published in London by S. W. Fores. Elizabeth Billington (1768-1818) was one of the most popular and highly paid opera singers of her day. After a triumphant debut at Covent Garden in 1786 she received a salary of £1000 to appear at the theatre for a season, and in 1801, after a period in Italy, she was in such demand in London that it was arranged for her to make alternate performances at Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres. Her first 1801 performance was as Mandane, daughter of King Xerxes in Thomas Arne's opera Artaxerxes, and Gilray's caricature shows her in this role. Mrs Billington was known for her wide vocal range, which was shown to good effect in the opera's celebrated aria, The Soldier, tir'd of War's Alarms. |
| Associated objects |
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| Other number | F.117-12 - H Beard collection numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.4598-2009 |
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| Record created | September 4, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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