A traditional English farce, starring Sir John Falstaff, one of Shakespeare’s favourite characters, who sets out to seduce two married women.
narrative
Based on Plutarch’s Lives, this play contains some of the most memorable quotations in English, and has been painted quite frequently.
A story of jealousy, adultery, treachery and race, which resulted in an early professional actress in a lead, and the first major lead for a black actor.
Titania, Queen of the Fairies, falls in love with Bottom, whose head has been turned into that of an ass. All ends well, after a farcical play within a play/
His most popular comedy inspired a new sub-genre in painting, ‘faery painting’ in the 19th century. Here’s the first act and a bit, with paintings by Dadd and Paton.
The north wind, cold and harbinger of winter, who abducted an Athenian princess in so many paintings. Also one painting which could show Euros, the east wind.
The personification of the west wind, to the Greeks gentle and responsible for bringing the start of the growing season, and the abduction and rape of a nymph who became Flora.
As the tragedy moves relentlessly to the deaths of most of its characters, paintings by William Blake, Ford Madox Brown, and Benjamin West tells its story.
First of two parts telling the classic story of the jealousy of sisters, plots, betrayal, and the troubles of old age, with plenty of fine paintings.
Almost banned in the 19th century, only one scene has been painted extensively, but that could refer instead to either of two of Tennyson’s poems.
