Falstaff Rising Slowly (Shakespeare, First Part of King Henry IV, Act 5, Scene 4)

Art Historical Context

Behold *Falstaff Rising Slowly*, a captivating etching and engraving from June 4, 1794, capturing a humorous moment from William Shakespeare's *First Part of King Henry IV Act 5, Scene 4. Here, the rotund knight Sir John Falstaff—ever the comic relief—rises sluggishly after feigning death on the battlefield at Shrewsbury, fooling his comrades with his exaggerated antics. This print is part of the ambitious Boydell Shakespeare Gallery project, by publishers John and Josiah Boydell in 1789 to celebrate British literature and elevate engraving as fine art. By commissioning top artists like Robert Smirke to design scenes, they produced luxurious folios that brought Shakespeare's drama into homes across Europe. Crafted by engraver James Neagle after Smirke's design, the work exemplifies late 18th-century printmaking mastery. Etching allowed fluid lines for Falstaff's expressive face and billowing figure, while engraving added precise detail to costumes and expressions, making the 12½ × 9⅛-inch sheet a miniature theater of emotion. These techniques enabled affordable reproductions, democratizing high art and fueling Shakespeare mania during the Romantic era. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (thanks to the 1947 Harris Brisbane Dick Fund), this piece highlights how visual interpretations immortalized Shakespeare's characters, blending literature, theater, and visual culture in a distinctly British tradition. A delightful glimpse into 18th-century wit!

About the Artist

William Shakespeare|Robert Smirke|John & Josiah Boydell|James Neagle (British|British|British|British) · 1840 |1831 |1564 |1564 –1877 |1912 |1616 |1616

British, active 1840–77|British, London 1831–1912 London|British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon|British, Stratford-upon-Avon 1564–1616 Stratford-upon-Avon