[Plate] R. A.. Banks, I. / Smith, Benj.
The Alto Relievo in front of the Shakespeare Gallery, Pall - Mall.
John & Josiah Boydell, at No. 90, Cheapside& at the Shakespeare Gallery Pall-Mall. Published June 4, 1796. Plate mark 57 x 42 cm.The whole sheet 65 x 49 cm. Stipple engraving.
Some creases. A little foxing in the left margin.
The print depicts a sculpture of Shakespeare published for John Boydell´s Shakespeare Gallery after a design by the sculptor Thomas Banks and engraved by Benjamin Smith. The sculpture was commissioned by Boydell to be placed above the entrance to his Shakespeare Gallery in London. Lettered below the image "Represents Shakspeare seated between the dramatick muse and the genius of painting, who is pointing him out as the proper subject for her pencil". The British Museum describes the sculpture as follows "Shakespeare on a rocky pedestal, one hand on the shoulder of the genius of painting standing to the right, holding a palette and brushes, while the dramatic muse with a lyre reaches to crown him with laurel from the left;".
Item No: 4272
