OPEN IN MIRADOR
Reference IDs
Folger call number: ART Box W951 no.65
Folger holdings ID: 337760
Notes
General notes
Collection title devised by cataloger All drawings have been removed from any former backings or mats (some play title information was derived from notes on these supports before they were removed). Some of these backings had labels including act and scene divisions in varying handwriting. Six of the items are labeled in pencil on the item itself. Two (no.57 and no.58) have segments of their former mats preserved, and encased in mylar beneath the drawings themselves. These segments contain titles written in the Roman style capitals which label the 'Group Scenes' by Wright in the FSL collection. This set of watercolors lacks defined borders. The edges shade off into the unpainted margins of the paper. Items vary in size between 9 x 6 1/2 in. and 10 x 7 in. and none are signed Artist: Artist identification is taken from pencil labels on the former mats or backings and from the booksellers. Three of the items are similar in design and style to paintings by Stothard and Smirke. The watercolor for Richard III (ART Box W951 no.58) presents the same positioning and conception as an engraving after a design by Stothard. The watercolor for Two gentlemen of Verona (no.64) is similar to a painting Stothard did for Boydell. ART Box W951 no.57 shows Falstaff being thrown into the Thames and is identical to an engraving designed by Smirke for which FSL has a wash drawing (see record for Smirke, Robert. Lady Macbeth) History: This set of watercolors may have been done as a single series or as two similar series (varying slightly in size), probably around the same time period and possibly for a commission. There are watercolors by Wright in the Turner extra-illustrated Shakespeare at the Huntington Library which are similar to these in size and execution. Robert Wark, in his catalog of the Turner volumes, suggests the possiblity of series work by Wright as well as the possibility of Drawings being commissioned directly by Turner for his set of Shakespeare. Wark reproduces three drawings similar to the ones noted here (plates no. 13,51 and 95 in Wark, Robert R. Drawings from the Turner Shakespeare ... 1973). Several of these large vignettes are similar in design to other watercolors by Wright, executed in different manners, in the FSL collection and the design for Henry VI, pt. 3 (ART Box W951 no.52) is similar to an engraving after Wright (see notes for details). Another item which may be part of this series is cataloged under Wright for 'A scene from Love's labour's lost' Provenance: ART Box W951 no.57-63 were formerly part of ART Inventory 289 (no.20,25,62,66,76,87,91) a collection of 122 Shakespearean watercolors, most of which are attributed to Wright. For provenance information see entry under Wright for Masquerade. ART Box W951 no.64,65 were formerly part of ART Inventory 286 (no.15,18), see entry under Wright for 'Comedy and tragedy' for provenance information. ART Box W951 no.51,52,53 and 55 were purchased by the Folgers from E. Parsons and Sons, July, 1928 (Case 1821). ART Box W951 no.56 was also purchased from Parsons and is listed in their catalog, no. 40, Nov. 1922, as item no. 459 (Cs. 1969). ART Box W951 no.54 was purchased by the Folgers from Maggs Bros., March, 1929 (Case 1912). for provenance information Subject: The following plays are represented: Julius Caesar - Brutus and Cassius Act IV, Sc. 3 (ART Box W951 no.51) ; Henry VI, pt. 3 - Edward and Lady Grey (no.52) ; King John - Hubert and Arthur (no.53) ; Merry wives (2) - Ann Page and Slender, Falstaff in the ditch (no.54,57) ; Romeo and Juliet (2) - Friar, Romeo and Juliet, Nurse and boy (no.55,56) ; Richard III - Clarence's dream (no.58) ; Much ado - Beatrice listening (no.59) ; As you like it - Touchstone and Audrey (no.61) ; Winter's tale - Perdita and Florizel (no.62) ; Merchant of Venice - Jessica running away (no.63) ; Two gentlemen of Verona - Act V, Sc. 4 (no.64) ; Measure for measure - Mariana and Page (no.65) ; Henry IV, pt. 1 - Falstaff, Prince Hal, and Poins (no.60)
Also known as
Subjects
Related names
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
depiction: Brutus, Marcus Junius, 85 B.C.?-42 B.C
depiction: Cassius Longinus, Gaius, active 54 B.C.-42 B.C
depiction: Burgh, Hubert de, -1243
depiction: Edward IV, King of England, 1442-1483
depiction: Elizabeth, Queen, consort of Edward IV, King of England, 1437?-1492
depiction: Arthur I, Duke of Brittany, 1187-1203
depiction: Henry V, King of England, 1387-1422
artist: Smirke, Robert, 1752-1845
artist: Stothard, Thomas, 1755-1834