Wright, John William. [Heroines of Shakespeare]

Folger bibliographic ID: 255805
Folger call number: ART Box W951.5 no.2
Folger holdings ID: 337827
Accession Number: cs1240

General notes

Title derived from published work All items are labeled as to character and play on the verso of the drawings (some labeled in pencil and some in ink). Drawings were originally matted, though mats have been removed, three segments of the mats with notes identifying the subjects of the drawings have been clipped and are encapsulated in mylar along with the drawings themselves (no.3, no.4 and no.6). The drawings measure approximately 6 7/8 x 5 1/4 in. Each item is initialed 'J.M.W. 60'. Items are highly finished and neatly executed Artist: Drawings were purchased as being the work of John Massey Wright which the initials on the items seem to corroborate. The items, however, are identical in design to a set of engravings attributed to John William Wright (engravings are labeled with the artist given as J.W. Wright). John William and John Massey are noted in bibliographical sources as being frequently confused with each other. Both were known to have worked for Charles Heath, the compiler of the published collection of engravings to which these designs belong. The date '60- in the drawings serves to further confuse the issue. The engravings are dated 1846 and John William Wright died in 1848. John Massey Wright was alive in 1860, though he would have been 83 years of age. The drawings have been here attributed to John William Wright, regardless of the date, due to the matching engravings and to the fact that they are dissimilar to the body of work in the Folger collection which is attributed to John Massey Wright History: Drawings are identical in design to six engravings which were published as a part of Charles Heath's The heroines of Shakespeare, 1848. This publication was the second of Heath's collections of Shakespeare's heroines and went into several editions, varying in size between 45 and 48 plates. Wright was responsible for 26 of these plates Provenance: Items were purchased by the Folgers from Maggs Bros. in April of 1924. Maggs gave no provenance information and claimed that the works were by John Masey Wright Published work: Heath, Charles. The heroines of Shakespeare ... London : D. Bogue, 1848 Subject: Items are three-quarter length portraits of the following characters: Helena from All's well (ART Box W951.5 no.1) ; Portia from Julius Caesar (no.2) ; Margaret from Henry VI, pt. 1 (no.3) ; Joan of Arc from Henry VI, part 1 (no.4) ; Lavinia from Titus Andronicus (no.5) ; and Constance from King John (no.6)

Extended title: [Heroines of Shakespeare] [John W. Wright]

Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. All's well that ends well Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Julius Caesar Catonis, Porcia, ca. 70-43 or 42 B.C Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Henry VI Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King John Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. Titus Andronicus Constance, Duchess of Brittany, 1161-1201 Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431 Margaret, of Anjou, Queen, consort of Henry VI, King of England, 1430-1482 Helena (Fictitious character : Shakespeare. All's well that ends well) Lavinia (Fictitious character)

artist: Wright, John William, 1802-1848
depiction: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
depiction: Catonis, Porcia, ca. 70-43 or 42 B.C
depiction: Constance, Duchess of Brittany, 1161-1201
depiction: Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431
depiction: Margaret, of Anjou, Queen, consort of Henry VI, King of England, 1430-1482
artist: Wright, John Massey, 1777-1866