Title devised by cataloger
Artist: Mallalieu in his 'Dictionary of British watercolourists' notes of Stothard, 'His colour is pretty and his drawing exact. The signature found on many of his drawings is a forgery.' Although these two watercolors exhibit some skill of draughtsmanship, the line is rather loose and some areas are painted broadly. Drawings were possibly copied after Stothard's engraving of the same scene, rather than executed by his hand. However, Bennett in her dissertation on Stothard reproduces the smaller Folger drawing as a work by Stothard (see Bennett, Shelley. 'Thomas Stothard R.A.' Ph.D 1977, UCLA, pl. no.188)
History: Design was executed by Stothard for the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery. It was one of the small series for Boydell, engraved by James Ogborne and published Sept. 25, 1792. The engraved image measures 8 7/8 x 6 1/4 in. (see ART Vol f88 no.8). The design was engraved several times thereafter in varying sizes by different engravers as illustration to Shakespeare editions. All of the Boydell engravings were supposed to have been taken from oil paintings. Friedman's 'Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery' (PR 2883 B7 F7) lists a Stothard painting for Two gentlemen of Verona at Stratford, Conn. (in 1979). Her note gives a different act and scene number, possibly an error since she reproduces the engraving that matches this design. (Painting reproduced in the Sotheby Sale Catalog of the American Shakespeare Theater, Stratford, same design labeled incorrectly)
Provenance: The smaller drawing, ART Box S889 no.9, was purchased with another watercolor, of the same size, depicting a scene from Twelfth night (ART Box S889 no.8). The two were bought by the Folgers from Maggs Bros., Aug. 15, 1927. Maggs incorrectly identified this drawing's subject as As you like it (Case 1704). The larger drawing was purchased as part of a collection of 122 watercolors of Shakespearean scenes, from a private owner by 'Sabin' ca. 1898, and sold to the Folgers by Gabriel Wells, April 28, 1920. Most of the items in the collection were attributed to John Masey Wright. Formerly ART Inv. 289 no. 108 - Case 889)
Published work: Boydell, John. Boydell's graphic illustrations of the dramatic works of Shakespeare: consisting of a series of prints ... engraved from pictures ... painted by the very first artists, and ... exhibited at the Shakespeare Gallery. London, Published by ... Boydell ... [1804?]
Subject: Drawings depict Act V, Sc. 4 in which Julia reveals her true identity. Silvia is pictured far left, her arms raised to Valentine's shoulder. Valentine is pictured in armour, looking at Proteus and Julia (who is dressed as Sebastian). Proteus is right of center, bending to right to look at Julia who stands to right, her head bowed, her right arm raised to her chin. The background is wooded
Two versions of the same design, the first being small and glued into a window mat, 'signed' lower right 'Thos. Stothard R.A.'. In pencil, bottom left corner of mat:'Pair noco', on verso in pencil at center: 'no. 9'. Because mat is glued down item cannot be accurately measured but mat opening measures 7 3/4 x 6 7/8 in. ; 19.6 x 15 cm. The second item is larger and its coloring varies slightly. It is glued solidly to a backing and is 'signed' bottom left 'T. Stothard'. In pencil on backing recto, lower right: 'Two gentlemen of Verona by T. Stothard R.A.' 12 1/8 x 8 7/8 in. ; 30.9 x 22.5 cm
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