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Mrs. Gwyn & Mrs. Bunbury in the Characters of The Merry Wives of Windsor

William Dickinson|Catherine Bunbury|Daniel Gardner|William Shakespeare|Thomas Watson|Mary Gwyn|William Dickinson

1780

Mrs. Gwyn & Mrs. Bunbury in the Characters of The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Dickinson|Catherine Bunbury|Daniel Gardner|William Shakespeare|Thomas Watson|Mary Gwyn|William Dickinson

Medium

Mezzotint; first state

Dimensions

Sheet (trimmed to image): 11 3/4 × 10 11/16 in. (29.8 × 27.2 cm)

Classification

Prints

Department

Drawings and Prints

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953

Accession Number

53.600.4478

Tags

ShakespearePortraitsWomenActresses

Art Historical Context

Step into the lively world of 18th British theater with this enchanting mezzotint print,Mrs. Gwyn & Mrs. Bunbury in the Characters of The Merry Wives of Windsor Created in 1780 it captures celebrated actresses Mary Gwyn and Mrs. Bun (likely Catherine Bunbury) in their roles from William Shakespeare's comedic play, which premiered centuries earlier but remained a stage favorite. The image immortalizes these women as the witty, scheming heroines—Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Page—whose antics charmed audiences, reflecting the era's booming interest in Shakespearean drama and star performers. Printed in th...

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