Shakespeare

Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery

Prints from The American Edition of Boydell's Illustrations of Shakespeare, Restored to all the Pristine Beauty of the First Proofs. New York: Shearjashub Spooner, 106 Liberty St., 1852. Engravings. Published in two volumes. Images ca. 17 1/2 x 23 1/2.

A magnificent series of British prints based on the works of William Shakespeare published by the great John Boydell. Boydell, a land surveyor in the employment of his father, was inspired by an engraving by W.H. Toms to leave his home in Shropshire about 1750 and walk to London to apprentice himself to Toms. After six years, Boydell set up his own shop and began his career as a print publisher. He was much concerned with the French dominance of the European print market at mid-century, and mostly by his efforts in the 1780's Britain became a print exporting country.

As part of his concern with making a profit and supporting British art, Boydell established the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, an establishment dedicated to British paintings depicting scenes from Shakespeare's plays. Boydell commissioned the paintings, put them on display in the gallery, and then published a folio work consisting of commissioned prints after 100 of the paintings in the gallery. Each print is expertly engraved and powerfully expresses the artistic inspiration that the subject provided. These are fascinating artistic expressions of the then current gothic interpretation of Shakespeare's works. The gallery and the prints were a boon for British artists, giving them inspiration and publicity at the same time. As almost all the paintings have since disappeared, the prints take on added interest as the surviving record of this fascinating episode in British art history.

Note: Click on underlined titles to see images. Additional images are added periodically. Feel free to contact us for images of any prints not yet illustrated.

Plate	Title	Artist	Engraver	Price
1	[Volume I: Frontispiece] King George III.	William Beechey	Benjamin Smith	$250
2	[Vignette in the Title] Coriolanus, II, i.Full page	Anne Seymour Damer	William Leney	$100
3	The Alto-Relievo. In Front of the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall. [Detail at top]	Thomas Banks	Benjamin Smith	NA
4	The Infant Shakspeare, attended by Nature and the Passions.	George Romney	Benjamin Smith	NA
5	The Tempest, I, i. The Enchanted Island - The King's Ship. Prospero and Miranda.	George Romney	Benjamin Smith	NA
6	The Tempest, I, ii. The Enchanted Island - Before Prospero's Cell. Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel.	Henry Fuseli	C.P. Simon	NA
7	The Tempest, IV, i. The Enchanted Island. Prospero, Ferdinand, Miranda.	J. Wright of Derby	Robert Thew	NA
8	The Tempest, V, i. The Enchanted Island - Prospero's Cell. Ferdinand & Miranda at chess.	Francis Wheatley	Caroline Watson	NA
9	The Two Gentlemen of Verona, V, iii. Valentine, Proteus, Silvia & Julia.	Angelica Kauffmann	Luigi Schiavonetti	$425
10	The Merry Wives of Windsor, I, i. Slender's Courtship. Anne Page, Slender and Simple.	Robert Smirke	Jean-Pierre Simon	$425
11	The Merry Wives of Windsor, II, i. Mrs. Page and Mrs. Ford.	Rev. William Peters	Robert Thew	$225
12	The Merry Wives of Windsor, III, iii. Falstaff, Mrs. Page & Mrs. Ford.	Rev. William Peters	Peter Simon	$425
13	The Merry Wives of Windsor, IV, ii. Ford's House. Ford, Page, Shallow, Caius, Sir Hugh Evans, Falstaff (in women's clothes), Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Page.	James Durno	Thomas Ryder	$450
14	The Merry Wives of Windsor, V, v. Windsor Park. Falstaff, Fairies, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Page, Mrs. Quickly, Pistol, Sir Hugh Evans, Fenton, Anne Page.	Robert Smirke	Isaac Taylor Junior	NA
15	Measure for Measure, II, i. Angelo, Escalus, Elbow, Clown, Froth, Officers, etc.	Robert Smirke	Thomas Ryder & Charles Gauthier Playter	$350
16	Measure for Measure, V, i. Duke in a Friar's Habit. Angelo, Escales, Isabella, Mariana, Lucio, Provost, Peter and Varrus	Thomas Kirk	Jean-Pierre Simon	$425
17	The Comedy of Errors, V, i. Duke, Ægeon, Lady Abbes, Antipholus, Dromio of Syracuse, Angelo, et al.	J. Francis Rigaud	Charles Gauthier Playter	$375
18	Much Ado About Nothing, III, i. Hero, Ursula and Beatrice.	Rev. William Peters	Peter Simon	$350
19	Much Ado About Nothing, IV, i. Don Pedro, Don John, Leonato, Friar, Claudio, Benedick, Hero, Beatrice ...	William Hamilton.	Peter Simon	$350
20	Much Ado About Nothing, IV, ii. Dogberry, Verges, and Sexton, in gowns, and The Watch with Borachio and Conrade.	Robert Smirke	John Ogborne	$375
21	Love's Labours Lost, IV, i. Pavilion in the Park near the Palace. Princess, Rosaline, Maria, Katherine, Lords, Attendants and a Forester.	William Hamilton	Thomas Ryder	$425
22	A Midsummer Night's Dream, II, i. A Wood. Titania, Bottom, Fairies, et al.	Henry Fuseli	James Parker	NA
23	A Midsummer Night's Dream, IV, i. Oberon, Titania, Puck, Bottom, Fairies . . .	Henry Fuseli	Jean-Pierre Simon	NA
24	The Merchant of Venice, II, v. Shylock, Jessica, and Launcelot.	Robert Smirke	Jean-Pierre Simon	NA
25	The Merchant of Venice, V, i. Belmont: Grove and Lawn before Portia's House. Lorenzo, Jessica, Stephano.	William Hodges	John Browne	NA
26	As You Like It, I, ii. Before the Duke's Palace. Rosalind, Celia, Orlando, Duke . . .	John Downman	William Leney	$375
27	As You Like It, II, i. Forest of Arden. Jaques moralizing on the Wounded Stag.	William Hodges	Samuel Middiman	$375
28	As You Like It, IV, iii. Forest of Arden. Orlando rescuing his brother Oliver.	Raphael West	William Charles Wilson	$450
29	As You Like It, V, iv. Forest of Arden. Rosalind discovering herself to Orlando.	William Hamilton	Peter Simon	$425
30	The Taming of the Shrew, Induction [sic], ii. Room in the Lord's house. Sly, Lord & attendants.	Robert Smirke	Robert Thew	$450
31	The Taming of the Shrew, III, ii. Baptista's house. Petruchio, Katherine, Bianca, &c.	Francis Wheatley	Jean-Pierre Simon	$425
32	All's Well That Ends Well, V, iii. King, Countess, Lafeu, Bertram, Helena, Diana, widow, Lords ...	Francis Wheatley	G.S. & F.G. Facius	$375
33	Twelfth Night, III, iv. Olivia's House. Olivia, Maria & Malvolio.	Johann Heinrich Ramberg	Thomas Ryder	NA
34	Twelfth Night, V, i. Street before Olivia's house. Duke, Viola, Antonio, Officers, Olivia, Priest ...	William Hamilton	Francesco Bartolozzi	NA
35	The Winter's Tale, II, iii. A Palace. King, Antigonus, Infant, Lords & Attendants.	John Opie	Jean-Pierre Simon	$425
36	The Winter's Tale, III, iii. Desert Place near the Sea. Antigonus pursued by a Bear.	John Wright	Samuel Middiman	$375
37	The Winter's Tale, IV, iii. Shepherd's Cot. Florizel, Perdita, Shepherd, Clown, Mopsa, Dorcas; Polixenes and Camillo disguised.	Francis Wheatley	James Fittler	$425
38	The Winter's Tale, V, iii. Paulina's House. Leontes, Polixenes, Florizel, Perdita, Camillo, Paulina, Lords & Attendants.	William Hamilton	Robert Thew	$400
39	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. First Age.	Robert Smirke	Peltro William Tomkins	NA
40	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. Second Age.	Robert Smirke	Jean-Pierre Simon	NA
41	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. Third Age.	Robert Smirke	Robert Thew	NA
42	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. Fourth Age.	Robert Smirke	John Ogborne	NA
43	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. Fifth Age.	Robert Smirke	Jean-Pierre Simon	NA
44	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. Sixth Age.	Robert Smirke	William Leney	$300
45	As You Like It, II, vii. The Seven Ages. Seventh Age.	Robert Smirke	Jean-Pierre Simon	NA
46	Macbeth, I, iii. Macbeth, Banquo & witches.	Henry Fuseli	James Caldwall	NA
47	Macbeth, I, v. Macbeth's Castle. Lady Macbeth.	Richard Westall	James Parker	$400
48	Macbeth, IV, i. Macbeth consulting the witches. Expertly repaired tears in top & bottom margins.	Joshua Reynolds	Robert Thew	$650
49	King Lear, I, i. Lear's Palace. Lear, Dukes of Cornwall & Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, King of France, Burgundy, Earl of Kent ...	Henry Fuseli	Robert Earlom	NA
50	King Lear, III, iv. Lear in the Storm.	Benjamin West	William Sharp	NA
51	King Lear, V, iii. Camp near Dover. Lear with Cordelia Dead. Edgar, Albany and Kent: Goneril, Regan ... Expertly repaired tears in bottom margin.	James Barry	Francis Legat	$500
52	[Volume II: Frontispiece] Queen Charlotte, Consort of George III.	William Beechey	Thomas Ryder	$250
53	[Vignette in the Title] Antony & Cleopatra	Anne Seymour Damer	Thomas Hellyer	NA
54	The Infant Shakspeare, Nursed by Tragedy and Comedy.	George Romney	Benjamin Smith	NA
55	King John, IV, i. Prison. Arthur, Hubert and attendants.	James Northcote	Robert Thew	$375
56	King Richard II, IV, i. Parliament House. King Richard surrendering his crown.	Mather Browne	Benjamin Smith	$325
57	King Richard II, V, ii. Entrance of King Richard and Bolingbroke into London. Expertly repaired tear in left margin.	James Northcote	Robert Thew	NA
58	First Part, King Henry IV, II, ii. The Road by Gadshill. Prince Henry, Poins, Peto, Falstaff ... Expertly repaired tear in bottom margin.	Joseph Farington	Robert Smirke & Samuel Middiman	$400
59	First Part, King Henry IV, II, iv. Boar's Head Tavern Prince Henry, Falstaff, Poins ...	Robert Smirke	Robert Thew	NA
60	First Part, King Henry IV, III, i. Archdeacon's House. Hotspur, Worcester, Mortimer, Glendower.	Richard Westall	Jean-Pierre Simon	NA
61	First Part, King Henry IV, V, iv. Battlefield near Shrewsbury. Prince Henry, Hotspur, Falstaff.	Francis Rigaud	Thomas Ryder	$400
62	Second Part, King Henry IV, II, iv. Boar's Head Tavern. Falstaff, Doll Tearsheet, Prince Henry, Poins.	Henry Fuseli	William Leney	NA
63	Second Part, King Henry IV, III, ii. Court before Justice Shallow's house in Gloucestershire.	James Durno	Thomas Ryder	NA
64	Second Part, King Henry IV, IV, iv. Westminster. King Henry, asleep. Prince of Wales.	Josiah Boydell	Robert Thew	$425
65	Second Part, King Henry IV, IV, iv. Westminster. King Henry and the Prince of Wales.	Josiah Boydell	Robert Thew	$400
66	King Henry V, II, ii. Southampton. King, Scroop, Cambridge, Grey, Lords & Attendants.	Henry Fuseli	Robert Thew	$400
67	First Part, King Henry VI, II, iii. Countess of Auvergne's Castle. Countess, Talbot, Porter ...	John Opie	Robert Thew	$400
68	First Part, King Henry VI, II, iv. Temple Garden. Earls: Somerset, Suffolk & Warwick, Richard Plantagenet, Vernon, another lawyer.	Josiah Boydell	John Ogborne	$400
69	First Part, King Henry VI, II, v. Room in the Tower. Richard Plantagenet, Mortimer & jailor.	James Northcote	Robert Thew	$450
70	Second Part, King Henry VI, I, iv. Duchess of Gloster, Hume, Margaret Jourdain, Southwell, Bolingbroke.	John Opie	Charles Gauthier Playter finished by Robert Thew	$600
71	Second Part, King Henry VI, III, iii. Cardinal Beaufort's Bedchamber. King Henry, Salisbury and Warwick.	Sir Joshua Reynolds	Caroline Watson	$300
72	Third Part, King Henry VI, I, iii. Field of Battle between Sandal Castle & Wakefield. Rutland, tutor, Clifford & soldiers.	James Northcote	Charles Gauthier Playter finished by Thomas Ryder	$350
73	Third Part, King Henry VI, II, v. Battlefield between Towton & Saxton, Yorkshire.	Josiah Boydell	John Ogborne	$400
74	Third Part, King Henry VI, IV, v. King Edward and Huntsman, Gloster, Hastings in distance.	William Miller	Jean-Baptiste Michel & William Leney	$350
75	Third Part, King Henry VI, V, vii. Palace, London. King Edward, Queen, infant Prince, Clarence, Gloster, Hastings ...	James Northcote	Jean-Baptiste Michel	$350
76	King Richard III, III, i. London. Prince of Wales, Dukes of York, Gloucester & Buckingham, Cardinal Bourchier, Lord Hastings, Mayor...	James Northcote	Robert Thew	NA
77	King Richard III, IV, iii. Young Princes Murdered in the Tower.	James Northcote	Francis Legat	NA
78	King Richard III, IV, iii. Burying of the Royal Children.	James Northcote	W. Skelton	NA
79	King Henry VIII, I, iv. The Presence Chamber in York Palace. Wolsey, Henry, Anne Bullen...	Thomas Stothard	Isaac Taylor	NA
80	King Henry VIII, III, i. Room in the Queen's Apartments. Katherine.	Rev. William Peters	Robert Thew	$325
81	Henry VIII, IV, ii. Abbey of Leicester. Abbot of Leicester, Wolsey, Northumberland ...	Richard Westall	Robert Thew	NA
82	Henry VIII, V, iv. The Royal Palace. The Christening of the Princess Elizabeth.	Rev. William Peters	Joseph Collyer	NA
83	Coriolanus, V, iii. Coriolanus, Aufidius, Virgilia, Volumnia, Young Marcius, Valeria ...	Gavin Hamilton	James Caldwall	$350
84	Julius Caesar, IV, iii. Brutus' Tent in the Camp near Sardis.	Richard Westall	Edward Scriven	NA
85	Antony and Cleopatra, III, ix. Palace in Alexandria. Antony, Cleopatra, Eros, Charmian, Iras...	Henry Tresham	G.S. & J.G. Facius	NA
86	Timon of Athens, IV, iii. A Wood - Before Timon's Cave. Timon, Alcibiades, Phrynia, Timandra.	John Opie	Robert Thew	$350
87	Titus Andronicus, IV, i. Titus' House. Titus & Marcus, Young Lucius pursued by Lavinia.	Thomas Kirk	Thomas Kirk	$350
88	Troilus and Cressida, II, ii. Cassandra Raving.	George Romney	Francis Legat	NA
89	Troilus and Cressida, V, ii. Grecian Camp. Diomedes, Cressida, Troilus, Ulysses & Thersites.	Angelica Kauffmann	Luigi Schiavonetti	$300
90	Cymbeline, I, ii. Cymbeline's Palace in Britain. Imogen, Posthumus, Cymbeline, Queen ...	William Hamilton	Thomas Burke	$300
91	Cymbeline, III, iv. A Forest Near Milford-Haven. Pisanio and Imogen.	John Hoppner	Robert Thew	NA
92	Cymbeline, III, vi. A Forest-Cave of Belarius. Imogen in Boy's Clothes.	Richard Westall	Thomas Gaugain	$300
93	Romeo and Juliet, I, v. Hall in Capulet's Palace. Romeo, Juliet, Nurse, Mercutio, Capulet, Tybalt.	William Miller	G.S. & J.G. Facius	$475
94	Romeo and Juliet, IV, v. Chamber in Capulet's Palace. Juliet (on bed), Capulet, Lady Capulet...	John Opie	G.S. & J.G. Facius	$450
95	Romeo and Juliet, V, iii. A Monument belonging to the Capulets. Romeo & Paris dead; Juliet & Friar Lawrence.	James Northcote	Peter Simon	$425
96	Hamlet, I, iv. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark [and the ghost of his father].	Henry Fuseli	Robert Thew	NA
97	Hamlet, IV, v. Elsinore. King, Queen, Laertes, Ophelia and attendants.	Sir Benjamin West	Francis Legat	NA
98	Othello, II, i. A Platform. Desdemona, Othello, Iago, Cassio, Roderigo, Emilio ...	Thomas Stothard	Thomas Ryder	$525
99	Othello, V, ii. A Bedchamber: Othello & Desdemona in Bed, asleep.	John Graham	William Leney	$425
100	Othello, V, ii. Desdemona in Bed, asleep, Othello.	Josiah Boydell	William Leney	$400

Also available:

John Boydell & Josiah Boydell. Boydell's Shakespeare Prints: 90 Engravings Mineola, NY, 2004. Paper. A collection of 19th century engravings commissioned by John Boydell after paintings of Shakespearean subjects, both tragic and comic. An affordable volume illustrating the lion's share of Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery. $9.95

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