William Shakespeare
(1564-1616), Dramatist and poetSitter associated with 107 portraits
The most celebrated English playwright and poet, Shakespeare is held as one of the greatest writers of all time. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he spent most of his working life in London, first as an actor, then a playwright. Whereas many poets of the time were wealthy amateurs, dramatists were usually professionals whose income came from supplying plays to the public theatres and court. The texts of plays belonged to the theatres and were seen as ephemeral, soon to be replaced. The publication of Ben Jonson's Workes in 1616, and in 1623 his own Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, Tragedies (the 'First Folio'), were milestones in the recognition of plays as lasting, influential works of literature.
Explore the Shakespeare Duck portrait (NPG D48052) from all angles | the Lego Shakespeare portrait (NPG D48054) from all angles | the Derby Porcelain Factory Shakespeare portrait (NPG D48654) from all angles | the William Shakespeare portrait bust (NPG D48655) from all angles
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by Sir George Scharf, after a painting attributed to John Taylor
lithograph, circa 1856 (circa 1610)
NPG D40741
by James Faed the Elder, published by Henry Graves & Co, after John Faed
mezzotint, published 20 June 1859
NPG D41647
by James Faed the Elder, published by Henry Graves & Co, after John Faed
mezzotint, published 1859
NPG D41648
by Charles Henry Jeens, published by Henry Graves & Co, after Edward William John Hopley
stipple and line engraving, published 15 August 1861
NPG D41663
by and published by Day & Son, after Martin Droeshout
lithograph, published 9 April 1864 (1623)
NPG D40736
published by Friedrich Bruckmann, after Wilhelm Lindenschmit the Younger
photographic print, 1864 or after
NPG D46392
published by Friedrich Bruckmann, after Wilhelm Lindenschmit the Younger
lithograph, 1864 or after
NPG D46393
Hero v. Bard (William Shakespeare; Giuseppe Garibaldi)
by Unknown artist
wood engraving, published by Fun 1864
NPG D13122
by Sir George Scharf, after Unknown artist
pencil, 29 April 1871
NPG D41915
by Charles William Sherborn
line engraving, 1876
NPG D21186
William Shakespeare ('Gower Memorial')
by Douglas James McNeille, after Lord Ronald Charles Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
albumen print, (1888)
NPG D41661
after Unknown sculptor, after Gerard Johnson
photographic print, early 20th century
NPG D42285
published by The Teacher's World, after a portrait associated with John Taylor
relief halftone, published 11 April 1917
NPG D48663
Unknown man called William Shakespeare
after Unknown artist
albumen print, before 1919?
NPG D41644
issued by Sarony & Co, after John Taylor
gravure cigarette card, 1923 (circa 1600-1610)
NPG D48918
William Shakespeare ('Shakespeare's Birthplace Stratford Upon Avon')
by Unknown artist, for British Railways
poster, 1948
NPG D48065
Queen Elizabeth II; William Shakespeare (on verso)
after Harry Norman Eccleston, after William Kent
steel engraved currency note, 1970-1991
NPG D48662
William Shakespeare ('William Shakespeare Lego Minifigure')
by Unknown artist
moulded plastic Lego figure, 2014
NPG D48054
William Shakespeare ('Shakespeare Duck')
by Unknown artist
moulded plastic, 2018
NPG D48052
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Related pages
- Searching for Shakespeare
- Making History: Printed Portraiture in Tudor and Stuart Britain
- Gallery history
- Writers of influence: Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling
- Writers of influence: Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling
- Writers of influence: Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling
- Writers of influence: Shakespeare to J.K. Rowling
- Director's Trail by Nicholas Cullinan
- In Character: Shakespeare's plays
- His picture in little: Shakespeare, Hamlet and Tacita Dean
- 'This sceptred isle': Shakespeare and the Plantagenets
- Everyday icons: collecting popular portraits
- NPG D48052 in 360°
- NPG D48054 in 360°
- NPG D48654 in 360°
- NPG D48655 in 360°
- Tudor and Elizabethan matching pairs
- Adopt-a-Portrait
- Icons and Identities: Shakespeare to Winehouse
- Daily highlights tours
- LGBTQ+ History Month highlights tour
- LGBTQ+ highlights tour
- Trailblazers Black history tour