[Robert Bensley as Prospero in The tempest]

Folger bibliographic ID: 255374
Folger call number: Use item's call number to search Digital Image Collection (direct link to come)
Folger holdings ID: 336481

Full figure portrait, standing to front, stepping forward, head profiled to right, left hand raised, right hand holds a staff. In ink at bottom center 'x Moody in Prospero' (see below) and on mount 'x Horace Walpole's writing'. In pencil, at bottom right, partially erased, is the note 'Strawberry Hill'. Item has been inlaid to a larger sheet, the edges of which are gilded, indicating that it may have been part of a bound volume. Signed bottom right, wove paper

General notes

Artist: Identification taken from signature and work's similarity to other drawings by Dighton. As well as being a portrait painter and caricaturist, Dighton was connected with the theater as an actor, a singer, a scene painter and a dramatist History: Portrait is identical to a watercolor drawing by Dighton in the Garrick Club collection (no.555a), however the Garrick Club item has astrological signs painted on the belt and borders of the over garment and is inscribed by Charles Mathews on the mount, 'Mr Bensley as Prospero in The Tempest'. FSL has a watercolor by a W. Loftis or Loftie labeled 'Mr. Bensley as Prospero Drury Lane 1789' (ART Vol. c16 no.6). The Loftis watercolor depicts Bensley in the same costume as the Dighton watercolor which is labeled as Moody. The Loftis item also shows astrological signs on the belt and borders of the over garment, as does the Garrick Club portrait. The Loftis portrait clamis to be 'taken from life' and pictures Bensley in a different pose. The Dighton portrait is not listed in Harv. Cat. and there is not record of it ever having been engraved Provenance: Item is not listed in the 1842 sale catalog of the contents of Strawberry Hill. It may, however, have been bound in a volume listed in the catalog. The handwriting attributed to Walpole is similar to other examples of his hand but there is no definite verification that the portrait was once owned by Walpole. The item was purchased by the Folgers from Gabriel Wells, Dec., 1927. Cs.1754 Subject: Portrait has been identified as Bensley due to its similarity to the Garrick Club and Loftis portraits. The label, attributed to Horace Walpole, claims to depict Moody, possibly John Moody (1727?-1812). There is no further evidence, however, to link the portrait to Moody, Bensley is noted on three playbills for Drury Lane, Oct. 13, 17, and 27, 1789 as playing Prospero. On the same bills a Mr. Moody is noted as playing Stephano (BILL Vol G2 D84 1785-90 no.307,308,314) This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance

Extended title: [Robert Bensley as Prospero in The tempest] R. Dighton. del

Bensley, Robert, 1742-1817 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Tempest Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Prospero (Fictitious character) Actors 18th century

artist: Dighton, Robert, 1752-1814
depiction: Bensley, Robert, 1742-1817
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
former owner: Walpole, Horace, 1717-1797