{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1136157"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1136157/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EF9186/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EF9186/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EF9186","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1136157/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1136157","accessionNumber":"S.2326-2009","objectType":"Print","titles":[{"title":"H Beard Print Collection","type":"named collection"}],"summaryDescription":"François-Antoine Conscience (‘Francis’), lithograph of Charles Kemble and Harriet Smithson as Romeo and Juliet,1827.\r\n\r\nThe lithograph by the French artist known as ‘Francis’ (1790–1840) records the performance of Charles Kemble as Romeo and Harriet Smithson as Juliet which took Paris by storm in 1827. The lovers are shown taking their final farewells in the adapted version of Shakespeare’s play which held the stage at the time. The humorous tone of the print suggests the artist, at least, did not give way to the hysteria that swept Paris in the wake of the production. A member of a great theatrical dynasty, Charles Kemble (1775–1854) was the younger brother of Sarah Siddons (1755–1831) and John Philip Kemble (1757–1823), and like them reached the top of his profession. Harriet Smithson (1800–1854) grew up in Ireland, the daughter of a theatre manager: She made her debut on the London stage at Drury Lane in 1818, but it was when she travelled to Paris in 1827, with actors from the Covent Garden company, that she achieved the highest acclaim, playing Juliet and Ophelia opposite Charles Kemble at the Théâtre de l’Odéon.\r\n\r\nThe composer Hector Berlioz attended <i>Hamlet</i> and <i>Romeo and Juliet</i> and was overwhelmed by the plays, the playwright and the actress. Harriet Smithson was the inspiration for <i>La Symphonie Fantastique</i> (1830), but she was unresponsive to the composer’s written declarations of love and Berlioz became engaged to another woman while writing the symphony, then left for a two-year trip to Italy. He returned to Paris on hearing that his fiancée had become engaged to another man, intending revenge, but his rage dissipated on the journey home. On his return he was introduced to Harriet for the first time. He proposed to her and they were married in 1833, with their son born the following year. Harriet was heavily in debt: her English-speaking theatre venture in Paris had failed and, as she did not speak French, she had only been able to perform miming roles on the stage. Berlioz could not make a living by composition and had to support his family by journalism. The couple separated in 1840 after Harriet’s descent into alcoholism, but Berlioz hired nurses to care for her when she was incapacitated by strokes and visited her every day until her death.\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Charles Kemble and Harriet Smithson as Romeo and Juliet. Kemble's Romeo, in ruff, doublet and trunk hose, supports a glassy-eyed Juliet who wears a tight-fitting dress and flowing bridal veil. The roof of the mausoleum, trees and memorial urns are faintly visible in the background. The mount is printed 'KEMBLE et MISS SMITHSON,' but has been trimmed to remove the rest of the text.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Francis","id":"A27915"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Ducarme","id":"A27916"},"association":{"text":"engraver","id":"AAT25165"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"printing ink","id":"AAT187371"}],"techniques":[{"text":"print-making","id":"AAT131119"},{"text":"lithography","id":"AAT53271"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lithograph","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2010EF9186"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES356581"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"prints","id":"AAT41273"}],[{"text":"lithographs","id":"AAT41379"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"France","id":"x28849"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1827","earliest":"1827-01-01","latest":"1827-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"36.9","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Print size","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"43","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Total including mount","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"36.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"Total including mount","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"François-Antoine Conscience (‘Francis’), Charles Kemble and Harriet Smithson as Romeo and Juliet, Théâtre de l’Odeon, Paris, 1827. Lithograph. Harry Beard Collection","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Kemble, Charles","id":"N4613"},{"text":"Smithson (Miss)","id":"N8884"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Romeo and Juliet"],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.2326-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"2326","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"H Beard collection numbering","id":"THES50444"},"number":"F.110-36"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2009-08-10","availableToBook":true}}