The Plays of William Shakespeare, vol. 1, containing The Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Merry Wives of Windsor

1805

Not on view

Fuseli designed the illustrations in this ten-volume set of Shakepeare's plays, edited by George Steevens and published in 1803. Bromley’s print for The Merry Wives of WIndsor responds to act 5, scene 5, where Falstaff meets Mistress Ford and Mistress Quickly in WIndsor Great Park at night. The print translates a loose sketch in the Museum's collection (1975.131.232) into a tightly controlled image with no detail left to the imagination. A high degree of finish was expected from a good reproductive engraver in this period, and details of dress and expression have been added to clarify the narrative. The ladies’ turned heads indicate their awareness of the approaching townsfolk, as their flirtatious gestures distract Falstaff from his coming humiliation.

Artwork Details

Title: The Plays of William Shakespeare, vol. 1, containing The Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Merry Wives of Windsor
Author: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
Editor: Alexander Chalmers, A.M. (British (born Scotland), Aberdeen 1759–1834 London)
Editor: George Steevens (British, Stepney 1734–1800 Hampstead)
Illustrator: Henry Fuseli (Swiss, Zürich 1741–1825 London)
Engraver: James Neagle (British, London 1765–1822 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Engraver: William Bromley (British, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight 1769–1842)
Printer: C. and R. Baldwin (British, active London 1804–10)
Publisher: F. C. & J. Rivington (London)
Publisher: John Johnson (London)
Published in: London
Date: 1805
Medium: Illustrations: etching and engraving
Dimensions: 8 9/16 x 5 9/16 x 1 1/2 in. (21.8 x 14.2 x 3.8 cm)
Classification: Books
Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1971
Object Number: 1971.559.10(1)
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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