Depicts Titania and the sleeping Bottom, surrounded by fairies. Behind a tree, Oberon looks on
Notes
General notes
Title derived from penned notes beneath image
Date based on first published work containing this illustration
This drawing is part of a set of 30 Darley illustrations which were reproduced as photogravures and published in New York and Philadelphia by Stoddart. The photogravures were sold, 30 plates in a box, folio size, with an imprint dated 1884, under the title 'Darley gallery of Shakespearean illustration'. Plates were issued in color and in black and white (some of which were filmed through color filters). A Shakespeare edition, published in New York by Amies in 1888, also contained these 30 illustrations along with designs by A. Chappell. The title page of the Amies edition notes that the illustrations are photogravures after wash drawings by Darley. Copies of the photogravures can be found in FSL ART Vol f80 and ART Inv. 447 (colored) and 448. The Shakespeare edition with Darley illustrations is PR 2752 1888e Sh.Col
Provenance: Drawings (ART Box D221 no.22-51) were sold by S. Henkels in January, 1909, along with the library of Lewis C. Gratz. Drawings are listed at the end of the sale catalog where it is noted that they were being sold by order of Darley's widow. The above noted drawings are lot no.437 in the catalog. The items were purchased by the Folgers from a Freeman Co. sale in Philadelphia, June 22, 1909. (Formerly ART Inv. 445 & 444)
Also available in digital reproduction
Also known as
Extended title: Tita. "Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms", Midsummer night's dream, act IV, scene I F.O.C. Darley