H Beard Print Collection
Print
1st August 1820 (published)
1st August 1820 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Henry Dawe, engraving after John Greenhill's portrait (1664) of Henry Harris as Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII. Frontispiece to Wilson's Illustrated Shakespeare, published in London by W. J. White, 1820.
This engraving of Henry Harris (ca. 1634–1704) as Cardinal Wolsey in Shakespeare and Fletcher’s Henry VIII is based on the earliest known image of an identified actor in role as a Shakespearean character. The engraving is from an oil painting, now in the Garrick Club, which is a copy after a portrait by John Greenhill (1644–1676). John Downes, who worked as prompter for the Duke’s Company and wrote Roscius Anglicanus (1708), an account of the Restoration stage, thought highly of Harris’s performance as Wolsey, ‘he doing it with such just State, Port, and Mien, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has Equall’d him’. Henry Harris was a good friend of Pepys, who often mentions him in his diaries.
Henry Harris is sometimes confused with actor and playwright Joseph Harris (fl.1684-1703) who was appearing in minor roles on the London stage at the end of the 17th century. The caption on this print misidentifies the sitter as Joseph Harris.
This engraving of Henry Harris (ca. 1634–1704) as Cardinal Wolsey in Shakespeare and Fletcher’s Henry VIII is based on the earliest known image of an identified actor in role as a Shakespearean character. The engraving is from an oil painting, now in the Garrick Club, which is a copy after a portrait by John Greenhill (1644–1676). John Downes, who worked as prompter for the Duke’s Company and wrote Roscius Anglicanus (1708), an account of the Restoration stage, thought highly of Harris’s performance as Wolsey, ‘he doing it with such just State, Port, and Mien, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has Equall’d him’. Henry Harris was a good friend of Pepys, who often mentions him in his diaries.
Henry Harris is sometimes confused with actor and playwright Joseph Harris (fl.1684-1703) who was appearing in minor roles on the London stage at the end of the 17th century. The caption on this print misidentifies the sitter as Joseph Harris.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | H Beard Print Collection (named collection) |
| Materials and techniques | Mezzotint |
| Brief description | Henry Dawe, engraving after John Greenhill's portrait (1664) of Henry Harris as Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII. Frontispiece to Wilson's Illustrated Shakespeare, published in London by W. J. White, 1820. Harry Beard Collection |
| Physical description | Mezzotint portrait of Henry Harris as Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII. Half-length, to right, holding a letter. Incorrectly identified as Joseph Harris in the caption beneath the print. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Harry R. Beard Collection, given by Isobel Beard |
| Subject depicted | |
| Literary reference | Henry VIII |
| Summary | Henry Dawe, engraving after John Greenhill's portrait (1664) of Henry Harris as Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII. Frontispiece to Wilson's Illustrated Shakespeare, published in London by W. J. White, 1820. This engraving of Henry Harris (ca. 1634–1704) as Cardinal Wolsey in Shakespeare and Fletcher’s Henry VIII is based on the earliest known image of an identified actor in role as a Shakespearean character. The engraving is from an oil painting, now in the Garrick Club, which is a copy after a portrait by John Greenhill (1644–1676). John Downes, who worked as prompter for the Duke’s Company and wrote Roscius Anglicanus (1708), an account of the Restoration stage, thought highly of Harris’s performance as Wolsey, ‘he doing it with such just State, Port, and Mien, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has Equall’d him’. Henry Harris was a good friend of Pepys, who often mentions him in his diaries. Henry Harris is sometimes confused with actor and playwright Joseph Harris (fl.1684-1703) who was appearing in minor roles on the London stage at the end of the 17th century. The caption on this print misidentifies the sitter as Joseph Harris. |
| Associated objects |
|
| Other number | Shelf 3-7 - H Beard collection numbering |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.3856-2009 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 21, 2010 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
