Richard II, from Twelve Characters from Shakespeare
May 20, 1775 (originally published), published 1809
Medium
Etching on cream wove paper
Dimensions
Plate: 40.2 × 42.4 cm (15 7/8 × 16 3/4 in.); Sheet: 60 × 40 cm (23 5/8 × 15 3/4 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
155617
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
John Hamilton Mortimer's *Richard II, from Twelve Characters Shakespeare* (1775 published 1809) captures tragic essence of Shakespeare's deposed king in a striking etching on cream wove paper. Part of a celebrated series of twelve Shakespearean portraits, this work showcases Mortimer's flair for dramatic, expressive figures, blending neoclassical precision with emerging Romantic intensity. Measuring a generous plate size of 40.2 × 42.4 cm, it invites viewers to ponder the monarch's fall from grace amid the Bard's timeless themes of power and pathos. Created in the late 18th century, when Shakespeare fever gripped British culture, Mortimer's etching reflects the era's passion for literary illustration. Etching, Mortimer's favored technique, involved incising lines into a copper plate with acid, yielding rich, tonal depth ideal for character studies. Published posthumously in 1809—years after the artist's early death in 1779—this print from the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection democratized high art, making Shakespearean drama accessible beyond elite theaters. Today, it stands as a testament to Mortimer's innovative bridge between painting and printmaking, influencing generations of illustrators and reminding us how visual art amplifies literature's emotional power.
About the Artist
John Hamilton Mortimer · 1740–1779
Comment on works: History; Portraits; Genre