'This sceptred isle': Shakespeare and the Plantagenets

    King Richard II,    by Unknown artist,    1597-1618,    NPG 4980(8),    © National Portrait Gallery, London
King Richard II by Unknown artist 1597-1618 NPG 4980(8)

Past display archive
8 December 2018 - 28 June 2020

Room 3, Floor 2

Free

William Shakespeare’s history plays have shaped perceptions of the Plantagenet kings for centuries, with a cast of characters ranging from the flawed Richard II to the heroic Henry V. The plays were not created in isolation, but drew extensively on the historical accounts that were published in the sixteenth century to justify and celebrate the position of the Tudor dynasty, fuelling an interest in English history that also encouraged the production of posthumous portraits. This small display examines the Tudor construction of Plantagenet portraits and their legacy in the popular imagination.

Explore 400 images of actors and actresses in Shakespearean roles.