Geboorte van Shakespeare Possibly 1782

This stipple engraving by Francesco Bartolozzi, possibly dating back to 1782, depicts the "Birth of Shakespeare." The work showcases the artist's mastery of the stipple technique, a method that uses dots to create tonal values and textures. The oval composition features a woman cradling a baby, likely representing Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, with a figure symbolizing Apollo, the god of music and poetry, at their feet. The scene, set in a pastoral landscape, reflects the idealized image of Shakespeare's birth and foreshadows the great playwright's destiny.