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William Shakespeare

Printer Thomas Brooker British
Sitter William Shakespeare British
1876
Not on view
Derived from a famous sculpted effigy of Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church at Stratford-upon-Avon, this portrait print shows the subject wearing a doublet, winged collar, earring and goatee. Laurels behind the head form a secular halo, and the subject is surrounded by emblematic objects—a skull, Tudor rose, and volume labeled "Comedia, Tragedia, Poesia," with a plaque below lauding the Bard as poet, philosopher and actor. Known as the "Victorian little master," Sherborn worked first for Swiss goldsmiths before returning to London to lead a revival of copper-engraved bookplates. This jewel-like print is close to a bookplate in size but was not produced for a single collector. The Museum has most of the nine states which together demonstrate how carefully the image was developed. This is the seventh state.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: William Shakespeare
  • Artist: Charles William Sherborn (British, London 1831–1912 London)
  • Printer: Thomas Brooker (British, active 1840–77)
  • Sitter: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
  • Date: 1876
  • Medium: Engraving; seventh state of nine
  • Dimensions: Plate: 6 3/8 × 4 5/8 in. (16.2 × 11.8 cm)
    Sheet: 8 1/16 × 12 1/16 in. (20.4 × 30.7 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.3.756–1655
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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William Shakespeare, Charles William Sherborn British, Engraving; sixth state of nine
William Shakespeare
Charles William Sherborn
Printer Thomas Brooker
Sitter William Shakespeare
1876
On the Wharfe, Bolton Abbey, William Callow British, Watercolor
On the Wharfe, Bolton Abbey
William Callow
September 30, 1858
Scrapbook of Drawings and Prints, Gideon Saint British, Pen and ink, engraving and etching
Scrapbook of Drawings and Prints
Gideon Saint
ca. 1760
William Shakespeare, Charles William Sherborn British, Engraving; seventh state of nine
William Shakespeare
Charles William Sherborn
Printer Thomas Brooker
Sitter William Shakespeare
1876
Stroh Violin, George Evans & Co. English, Mahogany and aluminum, British
Stroh Violin
George Evans & Co.
first quarter 20th century

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