The Sun.
London, England, 1822-01-15 00:00:00

SMIRKE'S SHAKESPEARE.
In the coursiut Publication,

ILLUSTRATIONS of SHAKESPEARE,
from Pictures Painted expressly for this WORK, by
ROBERT SMIRKS, Esq. R.A. and Engraved i❑ the finest
style by the most eminent Historical Engravers.
A celebrated German critic lins said, that the fame of
Shakspeare, " for centuries to come, will continue to gather
strength, like an Alpine avalanche, at every period of its de-
scent. Certain it is, that any work connected with Shah-
speare's name, and which has for its object the illustration of
his inimitable productions, may confidently rely on finding
favour with the world. His fame is the cause of fame
in others. Commentators,innumerable have been permit-
ted to inscribe their otherwise perishable names on the
eternal rock of his genius ; and even Players have for
years acquired opulence and popularity by happy portraitures
of his living characters. In announcing, therefore, a series
of engravings, intended as embellishments for-any edition of
Shalispeart's Plays, it is unnecessary to offer an argument to
vindicate, or an apology to excuse, the undertaking.
The spirit of poetry, whirls haunts every scene of the Plays
of Sliskspeare, beckons to her sister art to wander with her,
and thus " make society the sweeter welcome :" and it will
now, it is hoped, be seen that she does not call in vain. In
the whole range of the drama, there ate no win ks in which
characters so striking and various, or situations so romantic
and delightful, present themselves, to invite the illustration,
and inspire the emulation, of painting..
The editions of our Poet's plays have for the most part been
published without embellishments, or encu►nbered with en-
gravings so indifferent, as to make their possessors consider
them " when unadorned, adorned the nowt," It is chiefly
to supply such editions that the Proprietors of the present
Work have undertaken it. Each Play will furnish subjects
for five elegant Engravings, in addition to a Vignette ; the
aggregate number, therefore, of the plates will be Twu Hun-
dred and Twenty-two.
The name of the Artist from whose hand the Paintings fur
this Work are to proceed, may fully justify, and will doubt-
less not deceive, the most sanguine expectations. The Ge-
nies of Smirke has successfully displayed its power in his Il-
lustrations to Gil Bias, the Arabian Nights' Entertainments,
and the late Edition of Don Quixote; and the varied scenes
of passion and humour, in the Plays of Shakspeare, will afford
a still more ample scope for the extraordinary skill and
beauty of his pencil.
The Proprietors, refraining front the usual promises and
flatteries of a prospectus, content themselves with referring
the public to the Nmoliers already published of this Work, as
a fair specimen at the care and ability with which the whole
will regularly be prodoced.
NIOOF, or PUBLICATION: _

I. The Work will he comprised in Thirty•seven Numbers ;
each Number containing Five Illustrative Engravings, and a
Vignette.
11. A Number will he published every Two Months, till
completed. s.
d.
India paper, proofe. 41n 1 10 0
French p►►pe'r, proofs, 4to 1 t) 0
Imperial See 0 18 0
Royal Bvu
et.• For the accorntnodation at those who may be desirous
of possessing a beautiful arid correct Editiol► of Shakspeare,
it is intended tupublish one in Octavo. (without Notes,) from
the fast corrected text of Johnson and Steevens ; and the Play
illustrate,: will be published at the same time with the Em-
bellishments, price Three Shillings rack Number. A limit-
ed nun►ber of copies will be ailor(' un imperial Octavo,
price Six Shillings each Number.
The Numbers already published are as follow :

1. The Tempe At.
11. 'Taming of the Shrew.
Nlerry NVices•ot

. . . . . .
IV. Twelfth Ni4lo, (in February 1822.)
V. Mea.ur.• for Measure, (in April.)
VI. genie() nail Juliet, (in June.)
VII. 1-lenry the Fourth, Part I, (in August.)
VIII. :Midsummer Night's Dream, (in October.)
IX. Two Gent leiorn of Verona, i in Desernber.)
London • Printed for itodwell and Martin, llond-street;
sold by Colnactii rind Co. (.7ockspur-street, and the principal
Buyiliellers in the United Kin‘dorn.