Imagining Shakespeare: Mythmaking and Storytelling in the Regency Era

Displayed together for the first time since 1805, 14 paintings from the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery in London are now on view at the Folger. The paintings, created by leading artists of 18th-century England, depict scenes from Shakespeare’s plays.

The Boydell Gallery contributed to the story of Shakespeare as a genius from birth—the Bard, a symbol of British imperialism and economic power. This exhibition offers visitors the chance to consider both the stories Shakespeare created and the stories that were created about him.