Puck - "Lord what fools these mortals be" [graphic] / Arthur Rackham, '08.

Puck - "Lord what fools these mortals be" [graphic] / Arthur Rackham, '08.

[1908]

1 drawing : ink and color wash ; 14 1/2 x 10 1/8 in., 36.7 x 26 cm

paper

History: Drawing was executed as an illustration to the 1908 edition of Midsummer night's dream, published by William Heinemann in London and Doubleday, Page & Co. in New York. It appeared as a three-color reproduction, tipped on to a leaf facing p.70 of the text. The reproduction measured 7 7/16 x 4 13/16 in. Drawing was exhibited along with Rackham's other illustrations for this edition, at Leicester Galleries in London, 1908 and in the Folger's travelling exhibit 'Shakespeare, the Globe and the World' 1979-1982 (reproduced on p.155 of the catalog, fig. 11).

Folger copy: On wove paper, pencil crop marks on recto. The crop marks reflect a slight shift in color, possibly from a previous mat. Drawing has been removed from an artist's board by Conservation but no record of backing notations has been retained. Title from caption in printed volume. Signed in ink, lower left.

Provenance: Purchased by the Folgers from Maggs Bros., August 1927.

Published Work: Shakespeare, William. Midsummer night's dream ... London : Heinemann ... 1908.

Subject: Drawing pictures Puck, an elf like creature, standing profile, to right, facing front, his hands holding a branch up to the side of his face. The quotation 'Lord, what fools these mortals be' which this design was intended to illustrate, is from Act III, Scene 2.

This record contains unverified data from old cards and may contain incorrect or incomplete text. Please consult Curator for assistance.

Great Britain -- England.

ART Box R122 no.4 (size L)

cs1718