Publisher/Manufacturer: J. Mortimer, Norfolk Street, Strand, London Series title: Twelve Heads
1775 Etching and engraving in black on cream laid paper
399 x 322 mm. George Powell or John Williams
From Shakespeare's 'Henry IV' Part I. In this scene Bardolph attempts to explain to Prince Henry why he and his friends ran away from a battle, rather than taking part. Bardolph is shown as a soldier, but not a smart or gallant one. Shakespeare used Bardolph in a number of different plays, always as a friend of Sir John Falstaff, perhaps Shakespeare's most famous male character. In the plays he is described as a thief, a cheat and a drunk
Portrait of Bardolph, a Shakespearean character from 'Henry IV'. An ugly man with a large nose and bad teeth holds a staff and wears a muffin cap and a strap with a buckle over his shoulder. Portrait is set in an oval frame within a square border with quote from 'Henry IV'. Etched with a variety of lines and some stipple. Lower half of print has double lines suggesting plate moved during printing
