[One from] Illustrations to Shakespeare 39 

Robert Smirke made this watercolor titled ‘Illustrations to Shakespeare 39’ sometime between 1780 and 1810. Shakespeare’s plays were central to the formation of British national identity in the late 18th century. Smirke's illustrations offer insight into how Shakespeare was understood at the time, reflecting the conservative social values of the Georgian era. Unlike later more radical interpretations of Shakespeare's plays, Smirke, who enjoyed close ties with The Royal Academy, was instrumental in establishing history painting as an important genre in British Art. Smirke's focus on clarity and moralizing narratives aligned with the Academy’s mission to elevate British art. By studying this painting alongside original manuscripts, theater programs, and critical essays from the period, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, literature, and society in Georgian England. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.