Wm. Kempe

Folger bibliographic ID: 261999
Folger call number: ART Vol. a34 (vol.1, after p.xxiv of printed text)
Folger holdings ID: 345589
Accession Number: cs2004

General notes

Full figure portrait of Kempe dancing, to left, with both arms extended. Title from penciled note below drawing. Unsigned History: Watercolor is adapted from an engraving, printed in Harding's Shakespeare illustrated, 1793. The engraving is said to be taken from a "Wooden cut prefixed to Kempes Nine daies wonder, 4to, 1600." The original portrays two men, one playing musical instruments, the other, presumably Kempe, dancing. Several other original items in the same volume have been copied from Harding's work (or one possibly by Harding) Provenance: Item is housed in the 1st volume of a 21 volume extra illustrated edition of Shakespeare's Works. The edition, edited by Alexander Dyce and published by Edward Moxon in 1857, was originally 6 volumes but has been extended through extra illustration. The set formerly belonged to Robert Hoe and was bound by Bedford. The Folgers purchased the work from the sale of Hoe's library, held through Anderson Galleries. The edition is listed as item no. 2986 in the catalog for Part I L-Z, dated May 1, 1911 Subject: William Kempe has been noted as the original performer of Dogberry in Much ado about nothing This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance

Alternate titles: William Kempe

Kemp, William, active 1600 Actors

depiction: Kemp, William, active 1600
attributed name: Harding, Sylvester, 1745-1809
former owner: Hoe, Robert, 1839-1909