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Antique Shakespeare Engraving Timon of Athens Act IV Scene I Boydell 1803
This early 19th-century copperplate engraving illustrates a dramatic scene from William Shakespeare’s play Timon of Athens. The print depicts Act IV, Scene I, the moment when Timon abandons the city of Athens after discovering the betrayal and hypocrisy of the friends he had once generously supported. In this powerful composition Timon stands outside the city walls, raising his arm in anger as he turns away from the city he now despises.
The scene captures the dramatic turning point of the play. After losing his fortune and being rejected by those he once helped, Timon leaves Athens filled with bitterness toward humanity. Shakespeare portrays him as the ultimate misanthrope, a man who rejects society entirely. The engraving emphasizes this emotional moment through the stark architectural setting and the tense pose of the figure as he gestures toward the city he is about to abandon.
The composition was painted by Henry Howard (1769–1847), an English historical painter and Royal Academician known for his classical subjects and literary scenes. Howard was one of the artists commissioned to create paintings for the celebrated Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, an ambitious artistic project intended to honor Shakespeare by commissioning paintings and engravings illustrating his plays.
The plate was engraved by Isaac Taylor the Elder (1730–1807), a respected British engraver known for his refined copperplate work and book illustrations. His careful linework translates Howard’s dramatic painting into a finely detailed print that preserves the theatrical intensity of the original composition.
This engraving was published June 4, 1803 by John and Josiah Boydell at the Shakespeare Gallery in Pall Mall and at No. 90 Cheapside, London. The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery project remains one of the most important illustrated publishing ventures of the Georgian period and played a significant role in popularizing visual interpretations of Shakespeare’s plays.
Today prints from the Boydell Shakespeare series are highly collectible for their literary importance, historical significance, and refined engraving. They are particularly appreciated by collectors of Shakespeareana, Georgian prints, and early literary illustration.
Condition: Good antique condition with age-related toning and scattered foxing mainly in the margins. The engraved image remains clear and well printed with a visible plate mark and strong linework.
Framing tips: This print frames beautifully in a dark walnut or ebonized frame with a wide ivory or museum-white mat. The dramatic literary subject makes it especially suitable for display in libraries, studies, or classic interiors inspired by literature and history.
