A set of playing cards, or transformation cards, drawn by an unidentified artist, showing caricatured figures; each vignette incorporates the formation of hearts or diamonds into the scene. Some of the cards are numbered or annotated on the backs while others show drafts of other sketches. The set contains only the red suits, cards numbered from one to ten in each, although some numbers are missing and there are multiples of some numbers. Illustrations are also duplicated while others appear not to have been finished. There are no cards with clubs and spades. A number of the cards center on Shakespearean themes, social history, and street scenes (such as courtroom drama, musicians performing, a man in the stocks and, in a few, card playing itself). Some of the scenes depicted on these cards show more ribald, drawing from Macbeth’s Weird Sisters, Twelfth Night, King John, and The Merry Wives of Windsor; several are annotated on the reverse with lines from the plays. Falstaff is featured on several cards. Many of the cards reflect the mores of the period and the contrast between ruling passions and rules of conduct. In one, two men cast judgment upon a pregnant woman; it is annotated on the reverse with a dialogue between a Constable and a Judge. In "Village School" a schoolteacher manages to simultaneously hold a book and pinch a child's ear (nine of hearts). Other subjects include a game of chess (five of diamonds); drinking and smoking in a pub (seven of diamonds); and "Bunbury’s Country Club" (six of diamonds) in which the artist has kept elements from the print (published circa 1788). On the ten of diamonds the artist depicts a game of whist (annotated on the reverse "Can you one?").
Description:
In English., Title devised by cataloger., Some cards annotated and numbered on the verso., and For further information, consult library staff.
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
Subject (Topic):
Playing cards, Card games, and Social life and customs
On the platform before the palace of Elsineur, Hamlet tries to shake off the others who restrain him, battling in disbelief to get at the ghost of his father, who stands on the right, in full armour, pointing to the right with his spear. Also depicted are Marcellus and Horatio
Description:
Title from published state in the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. and Early state with Hamlet's face and hands outlined only.
Publisher:
Publish'd June 24, 1793, by J. & J. Boydell, Cheapside, & at the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616., Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616, and Hamlet (Legendary character),
"King Lear at the centre, his arm raised and looking up towards the dark sky, as Kent, behind him, attempts to coerce him out of the storm; Edgar, dressed as Tom O'Bedlam, sits huddled by a scant wooden shelter on the lower right, the Fool on the left crouching and looking warily towards Edgar, behind him stands Gloucester, holding a raised torch and reaching out his hand to Lear."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title, artist and imprint from published state in the British Museum online catalogue. and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
J. & J. Boydell
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. and Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
"King Lear at the centre, his arm raised and looking up towards the dark sky, as Kent, behind him, attempts to coerce him out of the storm; Edgar, dressed as Tom O'Bedlam, sits huddled by a scant wooden shelter on the lower right, the Fool on the left crouching and looking warily towards Edgar, behind him stands Gloucester, holding a raised torch and reaching out his hand to Lear."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title from published state. and Sheet irregularly trimmed to plate mark.
Publisher:
Publish'd March 25, 1793 by John & Josiah Boydell, at the Shakspeare Gallery, Pall Mall, & No. 90 Cheapside, London
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. and Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
"King Lear, with his thick hair blowing in the wind, holds the dead body of Cordelia in one arm, holding the other hand to his head, outside a tent, while a soldier on the left holds out his hand in horror and two men bear away a male body behind him."--British Museum online catalogue
Publisher:
Aquafortis published Septr. 1st 1788 by John & Josiah Boydell, Cheapside, London
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616., Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616, and Lear, King of England (Legendary character)
"Elbow, wearing an apron, and scratching his nose, stands before Froth who stands proudly laying one hand on his breast, holding a staff in the other, presenting him to the judge Escalus who sits wearily on the left, while officers stand watching, amused, on the right"--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title, artist, printmaker, and imprint from published state.
Publisher:
J. & J. Boydell
Subject (Name):
Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. and Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
