Moblard, Victor. Henderson as Hamlet

Folger bibliographic ID: 256317
Folger call number: ART Box M785 no.4
Folger holdings ID: 339119
Accession Number: cs251

General notes

Artist: Item attribution is taken from works similarity to other watercolor theatrical portraits in the FSL collection signed by Moblard. This portrait may, however, be the work of Augustus Toedteberg for whom Moblard seems to have worked as a rare print copyist. See guide record under Toedteberg, Augustus History: The date in the ground of this watercolor '1779' refers to the date on the print from which the portrait is copied. The engraving was published by Harrison & Co. March 1, 1779 and was used as the frontispiece to a separate edition of Hamlet published in the same year (FSL copy is PR 2807 1779 Sh.Col.) The engraving is listed under Henderson's entry in the Harv. cat. as item no.22. It has been suggested that this engraving is taken from a larger work Henderson's Hamlet, meeting the Ghost, which was engraved by S.F. Ravenet after J. Gwin (Highfill, Biog. dic., p.262) No biographical information has been located on Moblard. The user is referred to entries under Toedteberg, Augustus for additional works from the Toedteberg shop Provenance: Item was purchased by the Folgers from part 2 of the sale of the collection of Augustus Toedteberg, held by Anderson, Feb.25-26, 1904. Item is listed as no.1992 in the catalog of that sale. Formerly cataloged as if by John Kay as ART Box K23 no.1 Subject: Watercolor is not labeled as to act and scene but the engraving is printed quotation 'Whither wilt thou lead me? Speak. Act I, Sc. 2' The art collection of the Folger Library includes many volumes of extra-illustrated books, several of which formerly belonged to the library of the theatrical manager Augustin Daly. Many of Daly's extra-illustrated volumes were inlaid and organized by Augustus Toedteberg, a professional inlayer and repairer of prints who resided in Brooklyn, N.Y. in the 1870's to 1890's The volumes which Toedteberg grangerized contain a number of watercolor portraits copied after rare prints, which are signed by a Victor Moblard who may have been under the employ of Toedteberg. Moblard's style of painting and writing is rather distinct and even where he has not signed his name it is easy to spot his work. In cases where his signature or initials appear, or where the style gives evidence of his work, the item hs been entered under his name. In all cases, where known, a subject entry has been given for the original artist of the print from which Moblard was copying Title from label on ground of Folger copy, label including the date 1779. Full figure portrait, standing profile, lunging to left, right arm extended holding sword. Pencilled numbers on verso refer to provenance (copied from discarded mat by conservator). Unsigned This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance Also available as a digital reproduction

Extended title: Henderson as Hamlet [Victor Moblard]

Henderson, John, 1747-1785 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Hamlet Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Hamlet (Legendary character) Actors

artist: Moblard, Victor, active late 19th century
depiction: Henderson, John, 1747-1785
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
depiction: Hamlet (Legendary character)
artist: Gwin, James, 1700-1769
possible artist: Toedteberg, Augustus, 1823 or 1824-1909
former owner: Toedteberg, Augustus, 1823 or 1824-1909