One of a collection of four similar images; the others in this series are: Miss Hargraves as Amy; Madame Vestris as Don Giovani; Miss Bartolozzi as the page in The marriage of Figaro. Formerly part of an album (now lost), each on the same size sheet but different colors and attributed to different artists. Annotations in red ink are by the same hand. Presumably these collages, constructed from the same fabrics, were made by friends and exchanged as gifts. In this image, a full-length image of Edmund Kean as Othello constructed from parts of a print or prints while his costume and hat and their trimming are cut from satin cloth with additional decorated paper trimming and small metal buttons. This image is the only one of the four mounted on a secondary sheet, this one ruled as if from a ledger
Description:
Title written at bottom of sheet., Statement of responsibility written at top of sheet; "the author" is unidentified., and Date of production from recipient's note on the verso of one of the collages and other internal evidence.
Subject (Name):
Kean, Edmund, 1787-1833, and Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616.
The courtroom scene from Act 4, Scene 1 of Merchant of Venice when Portia reminds Shylock that the bond only allows him a pound of flesh, and makes no allowances for blood. Shylock, standing with a knife in his right hand and scales in his right, registers the disappointment and shock in his expression as he stands before Portia disguised as Balthasar, holding the bond. They are flanked by Antonio and Bassanio. In the background, the judge sits at his bench, his finger to his forehead. Below the title, Portia's lines: Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge to stop his wounds lest he should bleed to death. Followed by Shylock's lines: Is it so nominated in the bond?
Alternative Title:
Mr. Macklin and Mrs. Pope in the characters of Shylock and Portia
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., and Date based on last performance date of Macklin and Pope in the The merchant of Venice.
Publisher:
publisher not identified
Subject (Geographic):
England and London
Subject (Name):
Macklin, Charles, 1697?-1797,, Pope, Elizabeth, approximately 1740-1797,, Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616., and Shylock (Fictitious character)
Subject (Topic):
Actors, British, Courtrooms, Portia (Fictitious character), and Theatrical productions