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The Spirit of Shakespeare Appearing to his Detractors

1796
Not on view
The ghost of Shakespeare appears on a cloud, gesturing towards five terrified members of the Ireland family who kneel at right. Samuel Ireland raises his hands and looks back at the ghost, facing his son who points at the apparition. Two girls kneel behind their brother and Mrs. Freeman kneels behind Samuel. On the ground a large book is left open face down next to another lettered: "Tributory lines to Ireland / Irelande or Irlaunde / for I could not spell his name W Shakspere". At right a torn pamphlet reads: "Vortigern condemned by a most Disintrested Audience April 2 1796"

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Spirit of Shakespeare Appearing to his Detractors
  • Artist: Sylvester Harding (British, Newcastle-under Lyme, Staffordshire 1745–1809 London)
  • Publisher: William Richardson (British, active 1778–1812)
  • Subject: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
  • Subject: Samuel Ireland (British, active from ca. 1760, died London 1800)
  • Subject: William Henry Ireland (British, 1777–1835)
  • Subject: Anna Maria de Burgh Coppinger (British, died 1802)
  • Subject: Jane Ireland (British, active 1790s)
  • Subject: Anna Maria Ireland (British, active 1790s)
  • Published in: New York
  • Date: 1796
  • Medium: Etching
  • Dimensions: Plate: 8 7/8 × 11 13/16 in. (22.5 × 30 cm)
    Sheet: 9 3/4 × 13 9/16 in. (24.7 × 34.4 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1953
  • Object Number: 53.607(7)
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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