Hamlet Makes Comedians Play the Scene of His Father's Poisoning (Hamlet Fait Jouer aux Comediens la Scene de l'Empoisionnement de son Pere), from the Hamlet series
Eugène Delacroix
French, 1798–1863
Details
Title
Hamlet Makes Comedians Play the Scene of His Father's Poisoning (Hamlet Fait Jouer aux Comediens la Scene de l'Empoisionnement de son Pere), from the Hamlet series
Artist/Maker
Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798–1863)
Date
1835, printed 1864
Medium
Black and white lithograph on wove paper
Dimensions
9 7/8 × 12 11/16 inches
Credit
Purchase in honor of Mrs. Robert Wells, President 1972-1973 of the Members Guild
Accession #
73.42
On View
Currently not on view
To prick his uncle’s conscience, Hamlet arranges for a troupe of traveling actors to perform a drama about fratricide. During the performance, he hints at the real meaning of the plot: “Tis a knavish piece of work: but what o' that? your majesty and we that have free souls, it touches us not. [. . .] He poisons him i' the garden for's estate. [. . .] The story is extant, and writ in choice Italian.”
