William Shakespeare
1 portrait of William Shakespeare
© National Portrait Gallery, London
William Shakespeare
published by William Smith, after Martin Droeshout
line engraving, early 19th century
9 3/4 in. x 7 5/8 in. (248 mm x 195 mm) plate size; 18 in. x 11 3/4 in. (456 mm x 297 mm) paper size
Reference Collection
NPG D40737
Sitterback to top
- William Shakespeare (1564-1616), Dramatist and poet. Sitter associated with 107 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Martin Droeshout (1601-1650?), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 23 portraits.
- William Smith (died 1835), Printseller. Artist or producer associated with 11 portraits.
Placesback to top
- Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (23 Lisle Street, Leicester Square, London)
Events of 1800back to top
Current affairs
Widespread food riots after poor harvests of 1798-9. Theorist, Thomas Malthus, controversially argues that poverty and food shortages are an inevitable consequence of population growth, challenging assumptions that populousness was a sign of national prosperity and power. His thesis contributed forcefully to the debate over the existing Poor Law.Art and science
William Wordsworth publishes his Preface to the Lyrical Ballads; a retrospective explanation of his experimental poems written with Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It becomes one of the best-known manifestos of Romantic literature.International
Lord Castlereagh, Chief Secretary for Ireland, is the main architect of the Act of Union under which Ireland is merged with Great Britain and the Irish parliament is abolished.British troops support successful uprising by Maltese against the French.
Napoleon is victorious against Austrians at Marengo and reconquers Italy.
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