the art of hamlet

8/11/2019 The Art of Hamlet

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Something is rotten in this presentation

THE ART OF HAMLET



Hamlet and the Ghost - by

Henry Fuseli (1741-1825) This print of Fuseli's 1789 paintingdepicts the scene (Act I, scene iv) inwhich Horatio first brings Hamlet to see

the ghost of his father, the former Kingof Denmark, who has been haunting thegates of Elsinore. Fuseli created thisdramatic image of Hamlet following hisfather's Ghost for Boydell'sShakespeare Gallery, which opened inLondon in 1789 and contained acollection of paintings from Shakespeare

commissioned from the most importantartists of the day.



Hamlet and Ophelia - by

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

(1828-1882)

In this pen-and-ink drawing (1858),

Rossetti depicts the scene (Act III,

scene i) in which Ophelia attempts to

return to Hamlet the "remembrances" he

has given her. Critics have noted

Rossetti's masterful attention to detail in

this picture.



The Play-scene in Hamlet - by Daniel Maclise (1806-1870)



Ophelia - by Henrietta Rae

(1859-1928) This engraving of the 1890 painting byHenrietta Rae depicts the scene (Act IV,scene v) in which Claudius and Gertrudewatch Ophelia who, mad with grief,nonsensically recites the names of variousherbs and flowers including rue (a bitterherb), rosemary, pansies, fennel,columbine, daisies and violets, as shescatters them about. Critics have noted theinteresting composition of this painting, splitalmost perfectly in half between light anddark. It has been suggested that thisperhaps symbolizes the chasm in Ophelia'smind caused by her grief.



Ophelia - by Arthur Hughes

(1831-1915) This painting by nineteen-year-old ArthurHughes was originally exhibited at theRoyal Academy in 1852. Though not thefirst to employ a moonlit setting for thisscene, Hughes cleverly utilized themoonlight in his painting to suggest thedisorder of Ophelia's psychological state.He also suggested her status as a kind ofsacrificial victim by contriving to have thevegetation in her hair stick out in spikes likean improvised crown of thorns, leadingsome critics to describe his Ophelia as a"juxtaposition of childlike femininity andChristian martyrdom."



Ophelia - by John Everett

Millais (1829-1896) This Pre-Raphaelite painting by Sir John EverettMillais depicts the tragic death of Ophelia as shefalls into the stream and drowns. Millais beganworking on the painting in the summer of 1851,

painting the river and background by the riverEwell near Kingston-Upon-Thames. His model,Elizabeth Siddall, reportedly suffered "fleshymortifications" as she sat for the picture. Thepainting was completed in London during thefollowing winter and shown at the Royal AcademyExhibition in 1852. Although it was attacked bycritics who believed the background overwhelmedOphelia and diminished the pathos of the scene,Millais' Ophelia has become one of the best-knownillustrations from Hamlet .

the art of hamlet

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