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Ophelia: "There's fennel for you, and columbines" (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)

1787

Not on view

Ophelia appears here in act 4 of Shakespeare's play, her mind unhinged by her father's murder. Singing and crowned with weeds, she offers herbs and flowers to her brother, the queen and king. Soon after this scene, she will fall into a brook while picking flowers and drown. Ryland's print is based on a drawing by Cipriani.

Ophelia: "There's fennel for you, and columbines" (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5), William Wynne Ryland (British, baptized London 1732–1783 London), Stipple engraving, printed in brown ink — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Ophelia: "There's fennel for you, and columbines" (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)

Engraver: William Wynne Ryland (British, baptized London 1732–1783 London)

Artist: After Giovanni Battista Cipriani (Italian, Florence 1727–1785 Hammersmith (active London))

Publisher: John Walker (British, active 1776–1802)

Subject: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)

Date: 1787

Medium: Stipple engraving, printed in brown ink

Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed within plate): 13 1/8 × 9 5/16 in. (33.3 × 23.7 cm)

Classification: Prints

Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917

Accession Number: 17.3.3581(7)

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Ophelia: "There's fennel for you, and columbines" (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)

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