: "Searching for Shakespeare" at the Yale Center for British Art
will be on view from June 23 to September 17.
In 1856 the first painting presented to the newly founded
National Portrait Gallery in London was a work believed to
portray William Shakespeare (1564-1616). What England's most
famous poet and playwright actually looked like has been a matter
of interest for more than 200 years. Whether the picture, known
as the Chandos portrait, accurately represents Shakespeare's
appearance is still a matter of debate, since no portrait of him
is known to have been created during his lifetime.
"Searching for Shakespeare" brings together in this country for
the first time six key painted portraits purporting to depict the
playwright. It also includes two images that most likely do
reflect his likeness, as they were commissioned by Shakespeare's
colleagues and family: a circa 1620 tomb effigy, erected only
four years after his death; and a 1623 engraving that was praised
by playwright Ben Jonson and fellow actors as being "a good
likeness" of the bard.
"Searching for Shakespeare," whose only US venue is at the Yale
Center for British Art, also includes portraits of Shakespeare's
contemporaries and patrons, original documents relating to his
life, first editions of his plays and poetry, rare Elizabethan
theatrical costumes and a model of the Globe theater.
Martin Droeshout the Younger, William Shakespeare from the
First Folio, London, 1623, engraving, Elizabethan Club of Yale
University, Gift of Alexander S. Cochran.
Organized by the National Portrait Gallery, London, in
association with the Yale Center of British Art, "Searching for
Shakespeare" features nearly 150 objects that reveal Shakespeare as
his contemporaries knew him. The display includes an extraordinary
body of material dating from Shakespeare's life and work. A number
of objects included in the exhibition have never before been
displayed outside the United Kingdom, including Shakespeare's will
and the Chandos portrait.
"Searching for Shakespeare" also places the playwright in the
broader context of the Elizabethan stage. The exhibition includes
manuscript and printed materials related to Elizabethan
performance and stagecraft. Early editions of Shakespeare's plays
and poetry will be on view, along with portraits of actors such
as Richard Burbage; patrons, including the Earl of Southampton,
to whom the poet dedicated "Venus and Adonis"; and other
playwrights and poets, such as Jonson and Francis Bacon.
The Museum of London and the Victoria and Albert Museum are
lending rare Elizabethan costumes, similar to those listed in
Philip Henslowe's manuscript inventory of theatrical costumes,
circa 1582-94.
Other lending institutions include the Shakespeare Birthplace
Trust, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Museum of London, the
Folger Shakespeare Library and a number of private collections.
Nearly 50 works have been selected from collections at Yale,
including printed works and manuscripts from the Yale Center for
British Art, the Elizabethan Club and the Beinecke Rare Book and
Manuscript Library.
The exhibition will also present the results of the latest
technical analysis and research on several of the contender
portraits, casting new light on the search for Shakespeare's
authentic appearance.
The Yale Center for British Art is at 1080 Chapel Street, on the
corner of High Street. For information, 203-432-2800 or
www.yale.edu/ycba.
