Figurine - William Shakespeare

Art

Historic Hudson Valley

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

VC.64.103

Description

Figurine of William Shakespeare: Dark-haired figure, full length, clad in white, with pink lined mantel, gold buttons and trim, stands, cross-legged, leaning right elbow on stack of three books atop pedestal, while left hand points to scroll hanging down from beneath books; books, with cream-yellow, blue-green and red covers, rest upon gold-touched pedestal with four concave sides, at base of which are reliefs of heads of king and queen, and a third capped bearded head; scroll reads: "The clod cap't towr's/The gorgeous palaces/The solemn temples/The great globe itself/Yea all which it inherit/Shall dissolve/& like the baseless/Fabric of a vision/Leave not a wreck/Behind." (An arrangement of the lines from The Tempest, Act IV, Sc. 1; "And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,/The cloud-cap't towers, the gorgeous palaces,/The solemn temples, the great globe itself,/Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,/And, like this insubstantial pageant faded./Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff/As dreams are made on, etc."); base of figurine-rococo shell-like swirling forms decorated with sea-green and gold touches.

Artwork Details

Medium

Porcelain (hard-paste)

Subject Person or Organization

William Shakespeare

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Derby Porcelain Manufactory

Date made

circa 1760

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Inscription

Transcription

See description.

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

PM.60.1

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

12-1/2 in

Width

7 in

Depth

5-3/4 in

Dimension Notes

Display Dimensions: 12 1/2 x 7 x 5 3/4 in. (31.8 x 17.8 x 14.6 cm)

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

William Shakespeare

Notes

Subject

Person or Organization

Cornelia Van Cortlandt Beekman

Notes

Former owner

General Notes

Note Type

Curatorial Remarks

Note

The figurine was modeled after 1741 by Peter Scheemackers in Poet's corner, Westminster Abbey. It is believed the figure is Derby, c. 1758-1765. The firm post-dated Chelsea-Derby.

Note Type

General Note

Note

According to PAMPH 974.727726 PF 1959 S: "Acquired by trade with the Historical Society of the Tarrytowns."

Note Type

StorageNote

Note

Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Van Cortlandt Manor, Dining Room