John Brandard

He designed many hundred illustrated title-pages for sheet music in what Michael Bryan judged "a pretty, though weak, style".

Brandard took the chromolithograph, which had been first used in connection with music in 1841, to an incredibly high level of sophistication, using half a dozen or more stones to produce a single image, printed on paper of a far higher quality than had been used for this purpose hitherto...

The colours red and blue predominate in his palette of the 1840s, along with some exquisitely diaphanous draughtsmanship and plentiful use of gold, especially in filigree borders.

His covers convey an illusion of luxury and refinement, and are clearly aimed at the wealthier sections of society[3] Brandard employed two full-time assistants, allowing him to produce artwork quickly and prolifically, mainly concentrating on ballet and opera.

John Brandard died at his home 8 Southampton Place in Chalk Farm, north London, on 15 December 1863.

1848 lithograph of Pauline Viardot as Valentine (left) and Marietta Alboni as Urbain in Giacomo Meyerbeer 's Les Huguenots , Act 1 scene ix, Royal Opera House , London.