Picking of the Red and White Roses (Shakespeare, King Henry the Sixth, Part 1, Act 2, Scene 4)

Art Historical Context

Step into the dramatic world of Shakespeare's *Henry VI, Part 1* with this captivating stipple engraving, *Picking of the Red and White Roses* (Act 2, Scene 4). The scene depicts the fateful moment at the Temple Garden where English nobles choose between red roses (House of Lancaster) and white roses (House of York), igniting the Wars of the Roses—a symbol of dynastic rivalry that Shakespeare immortalized. Produced by publishers John and Josiah Boydell, with engraving by John Ogborne, it captures the tension among men and women in period attire, their choices foreshadowing civil war. First published in 1795 as part of Boydell's ambitious Shakespeare Gallery project—a landmark effort to elevate British art through illustrated folios—this large-scale print (plate: 19 9/16 × 25 in.) exemplifies stipple engraving. This technique, using fine dots for soft tonal gradations, allowed intricate shading and expressive faces, making it ideal for reproducing paintings in books. Reissued in 1852, it reflects enduring Victorian fascination with Shakespeare. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Gertrude and Thomas Jefferson Mumford Collection), this work bridges literature and visual art, highlighting 18th-century printmaking's role in popularizing cultural icons for wide audiences. A vivid reminder of history's turning points!

About the Artist

Josiah Boydell|John Ogborne|John & Josiah Boydell|William Shakespeare · 1752–1817

Comment on works: Portraits; History