WILLIAM ETTY (BRITISH 1787-1849) PORTRAIT OF THE ACTOR WILLIAM CHARLES MACREADY APPARENTLY IN THE ROLE OF HAMLET Oil on canvas 93 x 70cm (36½ x 27½ in.) This portrait depicts the actor and theatre manager, William Charles Macready (1793-1873), known for his Shakespearian roles. Macready played Hamlet on numerous occasions during his successful and lengthy career, first performing the role in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1811, when he was just eighteen years old. It was also in Newcastle that he appeared opposite Mrs. Siddons (lot 131) when the latter offered him some parting words of advice: 'You are in the right way, but remember what I say: study, study and do not marry till you are thirty). He took on the by now established role of Hamlet again in Bath in 1814, and made his London debut at Covent Garden theatre as Hamlet in 1821. He was later to reprise the role in Paris to great acclaim in 1827 and 1844. Macready was famously hissed by his American counterpart, Edwin Forrest, whilst playing the protagonist in Edinburgh. This sparked a rivalry which came to emblematise Anglo-American social and class tensions that climaxed in the explosive 'Macready Riots' of 1849 at Astor Place, New York. Given the centrality of Macready's Hamlet to the international controversy, it was natural that the actor should want to portray himself confidently embodying the role. He had himself previously engraved as Hamlet for popular dissemination, as well as being painted by Daniel Maclise and William Etty and in his diary he recorded visiting Etty's studio where he was 'delighted with his gorgeous colours and ravishing forms'. William Etty (1787-1849) was the only important British painter before the 20th century to have dedicated his career to painting the nude and semi-nude. He was successful during his lifetime despite the censure of the press who accused him of indecency. His reputation was such that he was elected an associate of The Royal Academy (ARA) in 1824 and a full academician (RA) in 1828. He held a one-man exhibition at the Society of Arts in 1849, where he exhibited 133 of his pictures. Macready and Etty met when travelling in Italy in the 1820s and remained close friends after this chance encounter. Correspondence between the pair, now held in the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C., includes letters from Etty to Macready dated 1838-1843 congratulating him on his performances in King Lear, Comus and Much Ado About Nothing.
WILLIAM ETTY (BRITISH 1787-1849) PORTRAIT OF THE ACTOR WILLIAM CHARLES MACREADY APPARENTLY IN THE ROLE OF HAMLET Oil on canvas 93 x 70cm (36½ x 27½ in.) This portrait depicts the actor and theatre manager, William Charles Macready (1793-1873), known for his Shakespearian roles. Macready played Hamlet on numerous occasions during his successful and lengthy career, first performing the role in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1811, when he was just eighteen years old. It was also in Newcastle that he appeared opposite Mrs. Siddons (lot 131) when the latter offered him some parting words of advice: 'You are in the right way, but remember what I say: study, study and do not marry till you are thirty). He took on the by now established role of Hamlet again in Bath in 1814, and made his London debut at Covent Garden theatre as Hamlet in 1821. He was later to reprise the role in Paris to great acclaim in 1827 and 1844. Macready was famously hissed by his American counterpart, Edwin Forrest, whilst playing the protagonist in Edinburgh. This sparked a rivalry which came to emblematise Anglo-American social and class tensions that climaxed in the explosive 'Macready Riots' of 1849 at Astor Place, New York. Given the centrality of Macready's Hamlet to the international controversy, it was natural that the actor should want to portray himself confidently embodying the role. He had himself previously engraved as Hamlet for popular dissemination, as well as being painted by Daniel Maclise and William Etty and in his diary he recorded visiting Etty's studio where he was 'delighted with his gorgeous colours and ravishing forms'. William Etty (1787-1849) was the only important British painter before the 20th century to have dedicated his career to painting the nude and semi-nude. He was successful during his lifetime despite the censure of the press who accused him of indecency. His reputation was such that he was elected an associate of The Royal Academy (ARA) in 1824 and a full academician (RA) in 1828. He held a one-man exhibition at the Society of Arts in 1849, where he exhibited 133 of his pictures. Macready and Etty met when travelling in Italy in the 1820s and remained close friends after this chance encounter. Correspondence between the pair, now held in the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C., includes letters from Etty to Macready dated 1838-1843 congratulating him on his performances in King Lear, Comus and Much Ado About Nothing.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
