The Art of Shakespeare

Yesterday, I wrote about how art has inspired writers.  Today, I thought I’d write about how Shakespeare has inspired artists.  The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. currently has an exhibition (until February 11, 2018) entitled “Painting Shakespeare”:  “From humble oil sketches to international masterpieces, this exhibition presents kids and adults alike, with a sometimes surprising, and always eye-catching, view of the man and his works.”  For a video about the exhibition, see http://www.folger.edu/exhibitions/painting-shakespeare.

Even if you won’t be able to see this exhibition, you can take a quiz trying to match a painting with the play which inspired the work of art:  http://shakespeareandbeyond.folger.edu/2017/06/09/quiz-painting-shakespeare-play/.

Last year, I posted about a book which features art inspired by The Bard’s work:  Shakespeare in Art by Jane Martineau et al has 88 full-page, colour reproductions of artworks based on 21 of the playwright’s dramas.  See http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/07/shakespeare-in-art.html for more information.