William Shakespeare (formerly known as)
Engraved to illustrate Wivell's "Inquiry into the History of the Shakespeare Portraits" (1827), this image is based on a painting then attributed to Cornelius Johnson (or Janssen), owned by Charles Jennens and believed to represent Shakespeare at the age of forty. That worked passed from Jennens, to the Duke of Hamilton, Duke of Somerset, then Lady Ramsden at Bulstrode Park, near Reading, before entering the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC. Today, the "Janssen Portrait" it is no longer believed to portray Shakespeare and has been retitled "Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman, possibly Thomas Overbury" (see also 17.3.756-1714).
Artwork Details
- Title: William Shakespeare (formerly known as)
- Series/Portfolio: Wivell's Inquiry into the History of the Shakespeare Portraits
- Engraver: Thomas Wright (British, Birmingham 1792–1849 London)
- Artist: After Anonymous, Anglo-Netherlandish, 17th century
- Artist: Once said to be after Cornelius Janssen (British, London, baptised 1593–1661 Utrecht)
- Sitter: Once said to portray William Shakespeare (British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon)
- Publisher: Abraham Wivell I (British, London 1786–1849 Birmingham)
- Date: 1827
- Medium: Stipple engraving on chine collé
- Dimensions: Chine collé: 9 7/8 × 6 3/4 in. (25.1 × 17.1 cm)
Plate: 10 1/8 × 7 1/16 in. (25.7 × 17.9 cm)
Sheet: 11 13/16 × 8 3/4 in. (30 × 22.2 cm) - Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
- Object Number: 17.3.756-2422
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Thomas Wright
1740
Thomas Wright
Paul Sandby
1758
Thomas Wright
1807–15
Multiple artists/makers
January 1, 1799
Multiple artists/makers
1869
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.