Falstaff with Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page (Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 5, Scene 5)

1790

Not on view

This rapidly drawn sketch conveys the essence of pose and gesture in a subject found near the end of Shakespeare’s play The Merry Wives of Windsor (act 5, scene 5). Believing himself irresistible, Sir John Falstaff has arranged a nighttime assignation with the canny housewives Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page in Windsor Great Park, not knowing that the two women are fully aware of his ungallant intentions and intend to publicly embarrass him. Townsfolk approach at lower right, their presence signaled by the backward glance of one of the women.

Artwork Details

Title: Falstaff with Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page (Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 5, Scene 5)
Artist: Henry Fuseli (Swiss, Zürich 1741–1825 London)
Subject: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
Date: 1790
Medium: Pen and brown ink over faint graphite
Dimensions: 10 1/16 x 7 13/16 in. (25.6 x 19.9 cm)
Classification: Drawings
Credit Line: Bequest of Harry G. Sperling, 1971
Object Number: 1975.131.232
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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