William Shakespeare

1747

Not on view

Engraved by Houbraken for "Birch's Heads," this portrait shows Shakespeare wearing a simple jacket and soft white collar with open ties as in the Chandos portrait of ca. 1610 (National Portrait Gallery, London). The print elevates its subject by adding a simulated stone frame and a cluster of symbolic objects—a lyre, mask, trumpet, laurel leaves, and dagger—references to Shakespeare's accomplishments as a poet and dramatist, and to his posthumous fame.

Artwork Details

Title: William Shakespeare
Series/Portfolio: Thomas Birch, The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain, Engraved by Mr Houbraken and by Mr Virtue
Engraver: Jacob Houbraken (Dutch, Dordrecht 1698–1780 Amsterdam)
Artist: After (?) John Taylor (British, died 1651)
Designer: Ornamental border after Hubert François Gravelot (French, Paris 1699–1773 Paris)
Publisher: J. and P. Knapton (British, active 1735–89)
Author: Relates to a series by Thomas Birch (British, 1705–1766)
Sitter: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
Date: 1747
Medium: Etching and engraving
Dimensions: Plate: 14 9/16 × 9 in. (37 × 22.9 cm)
Sheet: 15 1/16 × 9 1/2 in. (38.3 × 24.1 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
Object Number: 17.3.756-2423
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Gamba Bow, Wood, British — Gamba Bow
British
first half 18th century

Reclining Female Nude, Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) Dutch, Etching, drypoint, and engraving on Japanese paper; second of six states — Reclining Female Nude
Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn)
1658

"Royal George" Cello, William Forster British, Spruce, maple, ebony, British — "Royal George" Cello
William Forster
1782

The Round Tower, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons), Giovanni Battista Piranesi Italian, Etching, engraving, sulphur tint or open bite, burnishing; first state of four (Robison) — The Round Tower, from "Carceri d'invenzione" (Imaginary Prisons)
Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Publisher Giovanni Bouchard
ca. 1749–50

Alto Recorder, Joseph Bradbury British, Wood, ivory, British — Alto Recorder
Joseph Bradbury
ca. 1700

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.