William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare|Charles William Sherborn|Thomas Brooker

1876 · Engraving; seventh state of nine · Drawings and Prints

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.

Artist

William Shakespeare|Charles William Sherborn|Thomas Brooker

Date

1876

Medium

Engraving; seventh state of nine

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917