Monument to William Shakespeare
1798
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1798
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Monument to William Shakespeare is a 1798 ink by James Stow, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a seated man in old-fashioned clothes, holding a scroll and a quill. Two women stand beside him—one plays a lyre, the other holds a palette and brushes. The man looks relaxed, while the women seem to offer him their gifts. The scene is framed like a stage, with a simple pedestal beneath him. The caption calls this "Shakespeare seated between the Dramatic Muse and the Genius of Painting," meaning the women symbolize drama and art. The man’s calm face and their gestures suggest he’s honored by both. Next, look up etching, drypoint, aquatint to see how artists like Stow made prints like this.
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