The Sun.
London, England, 1821-12-22 00:00:00

PUBLICATIONS•

TILE QUART,ER.LY REVIEW,
WAS PUBLISHED THIS DAY.

. • SMIRKE'S SHAKESPEARE.
•
• In the conrse of Publication,
LLUSTRATIONS of SHAKESPEARE,
AL from Pictures Painted expressly for this WORK, by
ROBERT SMIRKE, Esq. R.A. and Engraved in the finest
style by the most eminent Historical Engravers.
A celebrated Ger Man critic hos 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 Shak.
spectre's name, and which has fur its object the illustration of
his inimitable productions,_ may confidently rely on finding
favour with the world. His tame is the cause of fame
in others. Commentators innumerable have been permit-
ted to inscribe their otherwise perishable names on the
sacrital.rtick of - his genius ; and even PlayerS have for
yeatsacquired opulence 'and popularity by happy portraitures-
of his liviag characters. In announcing, therefore, a series
of engravings, intended as embellishments for any edition of
Shakstware's Plays, it is unnecessary to offer an argument to
vindicate, or an apology to excuse, the undertaking.
The spirit of poetry, which haunts every scene of the Plays
of Shakspeare, beckons to her sister art to wander with her,
and thus " make society the sweeter welcome :" and it will
now, it is hoped, he seen that she does nut call in vain. In
the whole range of the drama, there are no woks 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
pnbliihed without embellishments, or encumbered with en-
gravings so indifferent, as to make their possessors consider
them " when unadorned, adorned the must." It is chiefly
to supply such editions that the Proprietors of the present
Work hare 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 Two Huh-
died and Twenty-two.
The name of the Artist from whose band the Paintings fur
this Work are to•proceed, may fully Justify, and will doubt-
less not deceive,, the must sanguine expectations. The Ge
nius of Sarirke 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 from the usual promises and
flatteries of a prospectus, content themselves with referring
the public to the Numbers already published of thiS Work, as
a fair specimen of the care and ability with which the whole
will regularly be produced.
atonc of PUBLICATION:
I. The Work will be comprised in Thirty seven Numbers;
each Number containing Five Illustrative Engravings, and a
Vignette.
It. A Number will to published 'every Two Months, till
completed. • ,C. s. d. •
• India paper, proofs, 4to l' 10 0
French paper, proofs, 4to 1 5 0
Imperial Bvo 0 18 0
Royal Bvo 0 14 0
*** For the accommodation of those who may be desirous
of possessing a beautiful and correct Edition of Shakspeare,
it is intended to publish one in•Qctavo, (without Notes;) from
the last corrected text of Johnson and tiwve us ; and the Play
illustrated will be published at the same time with the Ent,
bellistiments, price Three Shillings each Number. A limit-
ed number of copies will be printed on Imperial Octavo,
price Six Shillings each Number.:
The Numbers already published are as follow
I. The Tempest. . .
11. Taming of the Shrew. •
111. Merry Wives of Windsor. •

IV, Twelfth Night, (in February 1822.) - •.
Meioure.for Measure, (in April.)
VI. Romeo and Juliet, (in June.)
VII. Henry the Fourth, Part I, (in August.)
VIII. Midsummer Night's Dream, (in Octeber.).
• IX. Two-Gentleuien of Veruna, (in December.)
London.. Printed for Rodwell and Martin, Bond-street
sold by Colnaghi and Co. Cockspitr-street, and the principal
Booksellers in the United Kingdom.