alb3682637
William Shakespeare. Artist: Charles William Sherborn (British, London 1831-1912 London). Dimensions: Plate: 6 1/4 × 4 9/16 in. (15.8 × 11.6 cm)Sheet: 8 7/16 × 5 7/8 in. (21.5 × 15 cm). Printer: Thomas Brooker (British, active 1840-77). Sitter: William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564-1616 Stratford-upon-Avon). Date: 1876.Derived from the famous sculpted effigy in Holy Trinity Church at Stratford-upon-Avon, this portrait shows Shakespeare 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 for Swiss goldsmiths before returning to London to lead a revival of copper-engraved bookplates. This jewel-like print is close in scale to a bookplate but was not produced for a single collector. The Museum has examples of most of the nine states which together demonstrate how carefully the engraver developed the image. The artist's son donated this seventh state. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.
DC