The awakening of King Lear [graphic] / by Robert Smirke.

ca. 1792.

1 painting on canvas : oil ; 78.7 x 54 cm

canvas

In its original frame.
Title from Pressly.

Friedman 1976, p. 212, n. 415, and p. 236.
Engravings: Anker Smith, published 6 October 1792 for 1802 Boydell edition of Shakespeare's plays, facing p. 113 of King Lear, 10 3/8 x 6 3/8 in. (image and margin); a smaller print by M. F. Geisler, 5 7/8 x 3 3/4 in. (image and margin); an outline engraving by Starling, 3 7/8 x 2 7/8 in. (image)

Provenance: Commissioned by Alderman John Boydell for the Shakespeare Gallery; sold by lottery 28 January 1805 and won by William Tassie; sold by Christie 18 May 1805, no. 11, as "Lear, Cordelia and Kent-a charming and elegant Picture," bought by Crome, Esq., for 10 guineas (£10.10.0)

G. Michelmore & Co., Rare Books, Autographs, Manuscripts, 5 Royal Opera Arcade, Pall Mall, London SW1, February 1922, £125 (£250 for this picture and no. 86)

Exhibited: London, Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, "A Catalogue of Small Pictures Painted for the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall-Mall," (bound with the 1794 edition of the catalogue of the large paintings, but the number sequence begins again at "1"), 1795, no.30; London, Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, "A Catalogue of Small PIctures Painted for the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall-Mall," (bound with the 1796 edition of the catalogue of the large paintings, but the number sequence begins again at "1"), 1796, no. 33; London, Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, "A Catlogue of the Pictures &c. in the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall-Mall" and "A Catalogue of Small Pictures Painted for the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall-Mall" (only one number sequence for both large and small paintings), 1802, no. 155; London, Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, "The Exhibition of the Shakspeare Galley, Pall-Mall," (last time paintings were shown together; preparatory to their sale), 1805, no. 42.
Washington, D.C., Folger Shakespeare Library, 2007. Marketing Shakespeare.
Washington, DC, Folger Shakespeare Library, May 2017- February 2018. Painting Shakespeare.

Pressly, W.L. Paintings in the Folger Shakespeare Library, 58

Great Britain -- England.

FPa53

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