Prince Hal and Poins Surprise Falstaff with Doll Tearsheet
Medium
Etching and stipple on ivory wove paper
Dimensions
Plate: 56.5 × 41.3 cm (22 1/4 × 16 5/16 in.); Sheet: 86.8 × 58.1 cm (34 3/16 × 22 7/8 in.)
Classification
engraving
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
154521
Art Historical Context
Step into the lively world of Shakespeare's *Henry IV, Part 2* with William Satchwell Leney's1795 etching and stip engraving, *Prince Hal and Po Surprise Falstaff with Dollheet*. This print captures boisterous tavern scene where the roguish Prince Hal (the future King Henry V) and his Poins catch the corpulent knight Sir John Falstaff in a compromising moment with the feisty Doll Tearsheet. during the late 18th century, Shakespearean illustrations surged in popularity, Leney's work reflects the era's fascination with the Bard's colorful characters, bringing high drama to everyday print collect...