The King to the Prince of Wales; ‘Thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein,” King Henry IV, Part I, Act III, Scene II 1905 

Edwin Austin Abbey painted this oil on canvas in 1905, depicting a scene from Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part One. The King, in dark robes, lays his hand on the Prince of Wales, entrusting him with sovereign power. Abbey was an American artist who achieved great success in Britain, becoming known for his illustrations of Shakespeare and other literary classics. This work reflects a broader cultural fascination with Shakespeare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It evokes a romanticized view of medieval history, with great attention to costume and setting. The painting can be seen as part of the Pre-Raphaelite movement in British art, which focused on literary and historical subjects, especially those associated with kings, queens and power. To fully understand this work, we need to research the cultural institutions that shaped the artist’s vision such as theater, literature, and the history of art itself. Only then we can truly understand its place in the Edwardian era.