Shakspeare. Othello Act V. Scene II.
Painted by J. Graham. Engraved by W. Leney.
Pub. Sept.r 29 1799 by J. & J. Boydell, at the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall. & No 90 Cheapside London.
Stipple, fine impression, open letter proof, without quote from play. 565 x 415mm (22¼ x 16¼"), with large margins. Repairs to margins and edge of plate. Slight repair in between feet.
Othello standing over the bed of Desdemona as she sleeps, a candle and dagger in his hands. John Boydell (1720-1804), publisher and Lord Mayor of London in 1790, began his Shakespeare Gallery to encourage British historical painting by commissioning paintings on the theme of Shakeapeare's plays from leading artists and reproducing them as high quality prints. When his gallery in Pall Mall opened in 1789 it contained 34 paintings; by the end it has nearly 170, by artists including Kauffman, Richard Westall, Thomas Stothard, George Romney, Henry Fuseli, Benjamin West, Robert Smirke, John Opie & Francesco Bartolozzi. 96 were engraved, published separately until the bound edition, ''A Collection of Prints, From Pictures Painted for the Purpose of Illustrating the Dramatic Works of Shakspeare, by the Artists of Great-Britain'' was issued in 1805. The project was over-ambitious and the cost caused the firm to go bankrupt.
See Ref: 59333 for Proof before Letters.
[Ref: 59332] £320.00
Pub. Sept.r 29 1799 by J. & J. Boydell, at the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall. & No 90 Cheapside London.
Stipple, fine impression, open letter proof, without quote from play. 565 x 415mm (22¼ x 16¼"), with large margins. Repairs to margins and edge of plate. Slight repair in between feet.
Othello standing over the bed of Desdemona as she sleeps, a candle and dagger in his hands. John Boydell (1720-1804), publisher and Lord Mayor of London in 1790, began his Shakespeare Gallery to encourage British historical painting by commissioning paintings on the theme of Shakeapeare's plays from leading artists and reproducing them as high quality prints. When his gallery in Pall Mall opened in 1789 it contained 34 paintings; by the end it has nearly 170, by artists including Kauffman, Richard Westall, Thomas Stothard, George Romney, Henry Fuseli, Benjamin West, Robert Smirke, John Opie & Francesco Bartolozzi. 96 were engraved, published separately until the bound edition, ''A Collection of Prints, From Pictures Painted for the Purpose of Illustrating the Dramatic Works of Shakspeare, by the Artists of Great-Britain'' was issued in 1805. The project was over-ambitious and the cost caused the firm to go bankrupt.
See Ref: 59333 for Proof before Letters.
[Ref: 59332] £320.00