Marcus Chen
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the most famous playwright in history. However, ironically, little is known about his life, and even less about his physical appearance. While no contemporary physical description of Shakespeare exists, there are a few paintings that are believed to be portraits of him. One of the earliest depictions of a man presumed to be Shakespeare is the Sutherland Gower Portrait of William Shakespeare, painted around 1590. Another famous portrait is the Wadlow portrait, believed to be painted in 1595. In addition to these paintings, Shakespeare's work has inspired many artists over the years, with plays like Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet being depicted in numerous paintings.
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What You'll Learn
Portraits of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the most famous playwright in history. However, ironically, very little is known about his life, and even less about what he looked like. Shakespeare lived before the time of photography, and no contemporary physical description of him is known to exist. This has fuelled a demand for authentic Shakespeare portraits, leading to the production of several fake portraits, misattributions, and relabelling of portraits of other people.
There are two portraits of Shakespeare that are the most famous, both of which may be posthumous. The first is the engraving that appears on the title page of the First Folio, published in 1623. This engraving was based on a painting, named the Chandos portrait, believed to have been created by John Taylor in 1610 and is often used to depict the playwright. The Chandos portrait is considered by the art historian Tarnya Cooper to be the "strongest claim of any of the known contenders to be a true portrait of Shakespeare". The second is the sculpture that adorns his memorial in Stratford-upon-Avon, which dates to before 1623.
Other possible portraits of Shakespeare include the Sutherland Gower Portrait of William Shakespeare, painted around 1590, and the Wadlow portrait, believed to have been painted in 1595. However, neither of these portraits has been officially identified as Shakespeare.
While there may be uncertainty around the physical appearance of Shakespeare, his work has undoubtedly inspired countless artists over the years. Plays such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello have been reimagined in paint, with artists such as Edwin Austin Abbey, John Everett Millais, John William Waterhouse, Théodore Chassériau, and Benjamin West creating paintings based on iconic scenes and characters from Shakespeare's work.
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Authenticity of paintings
There are no known physical descriptions of William Shakespeare, and no photographs of him exist. Therefore, it is challenging to determine the authenticity of paintings purported to be of him. Over the years, several paintings have been identified as portraits of Shakespeare, but many of these were false or misattributed.
The demand for portraits of Shakespeare has led to numerous claims regarding surviving 17th-century paintings. Some of these paintings were altered to more closely resemble Shakespeare, such as the Janssen portrait, which was overpainted to recede the hairline and add an inscription with an age and date matching Shakespeare's life. This alteration occurred before 1770, making it the earliest known example of a genuine portrait altered to resemble Shakespeare.
There are two representations of Shakespeare that are unambiguously identified as him, although both may be posthumous. The first is the Droeshout portrait, an engraving by Martin Droeshout that appears as the title page to the collected works of Shakespeare (the First Folio), printed in 1622 and published in 1623. The second is the bust on Shakespeare's funerary monument in the choir of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.
The Chandos portrait, believed to be painted by John Taylor (1585-1651) around 1610, is probably the most famous depiction of Shakespeare and the most likely to be a legitimate likeness. It served as the basis for the Droeshout engraving and was once owned by playwright Sir William Davenant, who some believe was Shakespeare's illegitimate son.
The Sanders portrait, attributed to John Sanders or his brother Thomas, believed to have been a scene painter for Shakespeare's theatre company, has also been suggested as a possible authentic image of Shakespeare. Scientific tests on the oak panel suggest it dates to Shakespeare's lifetime. However, the identification has been questioned as the subject appears too young for Shakespeare in 1603, and the birth date on the label is not certain to be accurate.
Other notable paintings that have been associated with Shakespeare include the Wadlow portrait, believed to be painted in 1595, and the Sutherland Gower Portrait of William Shakespeare, painted around 1590. While there is no evidence that the Sutherland Gower Portrait represents Shakespeare, it gained attention due to the original inscription recording the sitter's age as 24 in 1588, making him a contemporary of Shakespeare.
It is important to note that historical artists often prioritised conveying their subject's wealth, status, or 'inner essence' over capturing their exact likeness. As a result, many portraits of Shakespeare were likely based on imaginative interpretations rather than accurate physical representations.
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Shakespeare's influence on art
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of all time, and his works have inspired countless artists over the centuries. While Shakespeare's physical appearance is unknown, as no contemporary description or verified portraits of him exist, his literary works have left an indelible mark on art, theatre, music, film, and architecture.
Shakespeare's Influence on Visual Art
Shakespeare's plays and poetry have provided endless inspiration for artists, with their universal themes and relatable explorations of the human condition. Artists have depicted iconic scenes and characters from Shakespeare's works, often drawing from his most popular plays, such as "Hamlet" and "Romeo and Juliet." One of the earliest known examples of Shakespeare-inspired art is the 1610 portrait of Shakespeare by John Taylor, believed to be the only portrait painted during the playwright's lifetime.
In the 18th century, Shakespeare's popularity in Britain led to the establishment of the Shakespeare Gallery by printer Josiah Boydell, featuring paintings by leading British artists. The Anglo-Swiss artist Henry Fuseli, influenced by the Gothic and Romantic movements, created imaginative renderings of Shakespeare's plays, blending precision and fantasy.
Other notable artists inspired by Shakespeare include Edwin Austin Abbey, who illustrated hundreds of Shakespearean scenes, including "Who Is Sylvia? What Is She, That All the Swains Commend Her?", and Claire Van Vliet, who paired dramatic woodcuts with scenes from "King Lear."
Shakespeare's Influence on Performing Arts and Beyond
Shakespeare's influence extends far beyond visual art. He has had a profound impact on theatre, with his plays continuing to be performed and reinterpreted centuries later. The Shakespeare Globe Trust in London aims to recapture the original theatre where his plays were first staged.
Shakespeare's works have also inspired composers and musicians, with his plays providing a rich source of themes and stories for musical interpretation. Additionally, his influence can be seen in the film industry, with countless adaptations and interpretations of his works.
In conclusion, Shakespeare's influence on art is vast and multifaceted. His works have provided a wellspring of inspiration for artists, musicians, filmmakers, and performers alike, and his influence continues to resonate in the arts today.
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Paintings of Shakespearean scenes
Shakespeare's artistic vision has been long studied, and his influence on art is undeniable. Over the years, artists have been inspired by his plays and sonnets, creating paintings based on iconic scenes and characters from his works.
Hamlet, for instance, has inspired several paintings, including Pascal Dagnan-Bouveret's 'Hamlet and the Gravediggers' (1883), which depicts the famous "Alas, poor Yorick" scene. John William Waterhouse's 'Miranda' (1916) is another painting inspired by Hamlet; it depicts the character of Miranda from 'The Tempest', representing hope and femininity.
'Ophelia' (1851-2) by Sir John Everett Millais is perhaps the most famous painting based on a Shakespearean play. It illustrates Ophelia's tragic death scene from Hamlet, where she drowns in a river. Millais used extensive symbolism in the flowers depicted, such as roses for love and poppies for death. This painting inspired Stanley William Hayter's abstract version, 'Ophelia' (1936), which explores the psyche with a unique colour palette and dissociative forms.
Other plays such as 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' have also inspired artists. Frank Bernard Dicksee's 'Romeo and Juliet' (1884) is one such example, while Sir Edwin Landseer's painting of the fairy queen Titania from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is another, showcasing his skill for painting animals.
Shakespeare's tragedy 'Macbeth' has also been a popular subject for narrative paintings, including John Martin's 'Macbeth' (1820), which depicts the famous scene of the three witches meeting with Macbeth and Banquo.
These are just a few examples of the many paintings inspired by Shakespeare's works, showcasing his enduring influence on art and culture.
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Sculptures of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is renowned for his plays, sonnets, and poems, and his work remains popular today. He has been memorialised in sculpture around the world. One of the earliest sculptures of Shakespeare was created by Thomas Banks in 1788. The sculpture, titled "Shakespeare attended by Painting and Poetry", depicted Shakespeare reclining against a rock, between the Dramatic Muse and the Genius of Painting. This sculpture was originally placed in the exterior wall of John Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery building but was later relocated to the garden of New Place in Stratford.
In the 19th century, statues of Shakespeare began to appear outside Britain, and his status as the national poet was consolidated in Britain. In 1864, a statue of Shakespeare was commissioned for New York City's Central Park to celebrate the tricentenary of his birth. Designed by John Quincy Adams Ward, the statue was based on three contemporary portraits. Following its creation, a designated space for sculpture was proposed for the Mall, and the statue was moved there in 1873. A replica of this statue was made for the State Theatre in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1986.
In 1871, a marble statue of Shakespeare was installed in the gardens of Leicester Square in London. Sculpted by Giovanni Fontana, this statue was a replica of Scheemakers' monument in Poets' Corner. Another statue was erected in Stratford, London, which shares its name with Shakespeare's hometown. In 1888, a large seated statue by William Ordway Partridge was unveiled in Lincoln Park, Chicago, and a bronze statue of Shakespeare by Frederick William MacMonnies was erected in the Library of Congress.
Shakespeare statues can also be found in Germany, Denmark, Australia, and Ballarat, Australia. The statue in Germany, erected in 1904, shows Shakespeare "seated and staring into the distance with a bemused and thoughtful look", while the statue in Denmark was commissioned to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the publication of Hamlet in 1603. The memorial in Sydney, Australia, was designed by Australian sculptor Sir Bertram MacKennal and erected in 1926. The statue in Ballarat was initiated in 1889 but was not completed until 1960 due to financial problems. It depicts Shakespeare bowing, as if at the end of a performance.
In addition to these sculptures, a clay sculpture of Shakespeare handcrafted by Vidhika Roy, a Fine Arts student from Delhi, gained attention on Reddit for its detail and artistry.
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Frequently asked questions
While William Shakespeare was a playwright, poet, and actor, there are no known paintings by him. However, there are many paintings inspired by his plays and purported portraits of him.
The Chandos portrait, dated between 1600 and 1610, is an oil painting that is believed to depict Shakespeare. It is named after the 3rd Duke of Chandos, a former owner. The painting was given to the National Portrait Gallery in London and is considered the most famous depiction of Shakespeare.
Yes, several portraits dated to the 17th century are claimed to represent Shakespeare, including the Droeshout Portrait, the Sanders portrait, the Wadlow portrait, and the Zuccari portrait. However, the identification of Shakespeare in these portraits is debatable.
Many artists have created paintings based on scenes and characters from Shakespeare's plays. Some notable examples include "Ophelia" by John Everett Millais, "Miranda" by John William Waterhouse, "Romeo and Juliet" by Frank Bernard Dicksee, and "King Lear" by Edwin Austin Abbey.
Yes, many artists have found inspiration in Shakespeare's works. For example, Henry Fuseli and John Singer Sargent painted scenes from "Macbeth," and Théodore Chassériau illustrated "Desdemona" from "Othello." Benjamin West also created a political allegory based on "Romeo and Juliet." These interpretations showcase the enduring influence of Shakespeare in art.
