Skip to main content
Menu

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

William Shakespeare, c. 1600-1610

associated with John Taylor

Britain’s most famous literary hero, William Shakespeare (1564–1616), was described by his contemporary Ben Jonson as the ‘soul of the age’. He spent most of his working life in London, first as an actor and then as a playwright, writing plays for the immensely popular public theatres and the royal court. His works include Romeo and Juliet (c. 1594–96), Hamlet (c. 1600), Othello (c. 1603) and Macbeth (1606). Shakespeare’s death in 1616 went unmarked beyond his home town of Stratford-upon-Avon, and it took over a century for his reputation and international fame to be secured.

This is the only portrait of Shakespeare that has a good claim to have been painted from life and as such, over its long history, has become an icon in its own right. Documentary sources suggest that it was once owned by Shakespeare’s godson, and that it was painted by ‘one Taylor, a Player and painter’. This is believed to be a reference to John Taylor (d. 1651), who was a member of the Painter-Stainers’ Company. It was the first work acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, London, on the institution’s founding in 1856.

National Portrait Gallery, London. Given by Francis Egerton, 1st Earl of Ellesmere, 1856
© National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
King Edward Terrace, Parkes
Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia

Phone +61 2 6102 7000
ABN: 54 74 277 1196

The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency