A Design for a Monument Dedicated to the Memory of Mr. Henderson 1786

This 1786 engraving by Thomas Prattent, titled "A Design for a Monument Dedicated to the Memory of Mr. Henderson," commemorates the celebrated actor John Henderson. The design depicts a classical monument with allegorical figures representing Tragedy and Comedy, mourning the loss of Henderson, who is portrayed in a medallion at the center. The inscription at the base of the monument, "Cut out short Candle! 'Tis but a walking Shadow a poor Player's Sc," references a famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet, suggesting Henderson's untimely death. The engraving, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the artistic and theatrical culture of late 18th-century England.