Boydell Shakespeare Gallery – Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare Engraving – Much Ado About Nothing, Act III, Scene I (1792)
Large format, hand-colored stipple engraving after a painting by Rev. William Peters, engraved by Peter Simon and published in London by John & Josiah Boydell, June 4, 1792.
This charming 18th-century print illustrates a pivotal scene from Much Ado About Nothing, Act III, Scene I—the moment when Hero and Ursula conspire to trick Beatrice into believing that Benedick is in love with her. In the composition, Beatrice hides behind a tree, listening wide-eyed as the two women, posed in theatrical intimacy, speak loudly and dramatically for her benefit. Their elegant attire, the lush garden setting, and the expressive staging reflect the sentimental and idealized style typical of the late 18th century.
Hero: Then go we near her, that her ear lose no-thing of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.
The print is executed in stipple engraving, a popular technique of the time that allows for soft tonal modeling, particularly suited to portraiture and theatrical scenes. This impression is finely hand-colored, with delicate shading and warm pastel tones that bring the figures vividly to life.
This print is based on a painting by Rev. William Peters (1742–1814), a respected Irish artist and clergyman. Peters was known for his portraits and genre scenes and was a regular contributor to the Royal Academy. His theatrical sensibility and graceful compositions made him a fitting choice for the Boydell project.
The engraving was executed by Peter Simon (c.1750–1810), a German-born engraver active in London who specialized in stipple engraving. Simon’s refined touch and skill in rendering delicate features made him a popular collaborator on literary and portrait prints of the period.
Together, Peters and Simon created a visually engaging interpretation of Shakespeare’s comic drama, combining wit, elegance, and sentiment—a perfect match for the tastes and ideals of the late Georgian audience.
Condition: Strong clear impression. Beautiful light handcoloring. Light age toning of sheet and some foxing, primarily in the margins, with a few inconspicious spots also within the image.
Published 1791 - 1792
Full Sheet: 50 x 66 cm
These stipple engravings were created in the late 18th century are part of a celebrated series commissioned for the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, a landmark effort to pair Britain’s greatest literary figure with the talents of leading contemporary artists and engravers. The result was a visual celebration of Shakespeare’s plays that helped shape English cultural identity at the end of the Georgian era.
John and Josiah Boydell who conceived the idea of “a fine Edition of Shakespeare” comparable to the rival the elegant volumes with which the French celebrated their great writers which would be richly illustrated with works by the great artists of the period. As part of the plan, they also decided to create a “Shakespeare Gallery” and to commission distinguished artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, George Rommy, and Benjamin West to do a series of oils depicting scenes and caracters from the plays. The paintings would be exhibited in the Gallery and serve as the basis for two series of prints. The large prints were published as part of an imperial foilo album without text. These large format engravings ere apparently part of that group. A seperate set of smaller engravings were made to accompany the text.
The Shakespeare Gallery, housed in its own building at Pall Mall, became on of the main tourist attractions for visitors to London at the end of the eighteenth century.
Text on the print:
Painted by the Rev.d W.m Peters. Engraved by Peter Simon.
— Hero, Ursula, and Beatrice (listening) —
Hero: Then go we near her, that her ear lose no-thing
of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.
[Much Ado about Nothing, Act 3, Scene 1.]
SHAKSPEARE.
Much ado about nothing.
ACT III SCENE I.
— No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;
I know, her spirits are as coy and wild
As haggerds of the rock.
Urs. But are you sure
That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?
Published June 4th, 1792, by John & Josiah Boydell, at the Shakespeare Gallery, Pall Mall, London.
Below: In situ mockup with separate engraving from the same series. Frames not included.
