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Shakespeare Gallery folio, "A Comedy of Errors, Act V, Scene 1". As engraved by C.G. Playter, after the painting by I. F. Rigaud by J. & J. Boydell Publishers

Shakespeare Gallery folio, A Comedy of Errors, Act V, Scene 1. As engraved by C.G. Playter, after the painting by I. F. Rigaud by J. & J. Boydell Publishers

Shakespeare Gallery folio, "A Comedy of Errors, Act V, Scene 1". As engraved by C.G. Playter, after the painting by I. F. Rigaud

J. & J. Boydell Publishers

Title

Shakespeare Gallery folio, "A Comedy of Errors, Act V, Scene 1". As engraved by C.G. Playter, after the painting by I. F. Rigaud

 
Artist

J. & J. Boydell Publishers

 
Year
1800  
Technique
engraving 
Image Size
19 5/8 x 25" platemark 
Signature
engraved, lower right 
Edition Size
not stated; this image most likely from first edition 
Annotations
engraved: title and date of publication, pblshr's name and address, excerpt from play, both painter and etcher's names beneath image. 
Reference
 
Paper
heavy antique-white wove 
State
published 
Publisher
John Boydell: J. & J., Publishers 
Inventory ID
16619 
Price
SOLD
Description

Angelo the goldsmith and the Second Merchant are discussing how Antipholus of Ephesus claimed to have never received the gold chain from Angelo, when they encounter Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse. Angelo sees the gold chain hanging from Antipholus' neck, and they exchange harsh words that lead to drawn swords. Just then Adriana, Luciana, and the Courtesan come in, and Antipholus and Dromio flee into a nearby abbey. The Abbess comes out and demands to know what is going on. Adriana describes her husband's madness, but after hearing the story, the Abbess blames Adriana's jealousy for driving Antipholus mad and denies everyone entry into her house, saying that she will cure the man herself.

THE BOYDELL SHAKESPEARE FOLIO included 167 engravings, dating from 1791 to 1803, that were adapted from paintings shown at the Shakespeare Gallery in London in the late eighteenth century. John Boydell (1719 - 1804) was a noted engraver, publisher, print-seller, and even Lord Mayor of London, who established the Shakespeare Gallery and sold to subscribers engravings of the paintings shown there. His nephew, Josiah Boydell, published the collected engravings after John Boydell's death.