PROSPECTUS.

THE illustrations of Shakspeare are so numerous and so varied, that, at first sight, it appears impossible, now to produce any which shall possess either novelty or attraction. But the projector of the present work hopes that it is still in his power to offer to the public an accompaniment to the dramas of our immortal poet which shall be desirable, and at least novel in plan. It is his intention to give the whole story of each play, in a connected series of designs, whether the incidents be performed or narrated. The manifest advantages of this mode of illustration are such as to occasion surprise that it should not have been undertaken before. The interest that is excited for each individual character, the satisfaction that always results from seeing any thing complete, and the much greater scope for the invention of the artist, are indisputable recommendations to the plan.

The designs will be engraved in outline by the artist himself. The costume, the national physiognomy, and all that can possibly be characteristic or illustrative of the subject, will be closely attended to, and it is hoped that they will be found equally interesting as illustrations of our great dramatist, and as an amusing series of plates for a portfolio or table.

As the plays of Shakspeare are not equally fertile in incidents, the numbers may occasionally vary in the quantity of plates, and sometimes may contain two plays; but each number will be complete in itself, and independent of the others.

It is supposed that the six and thirty plays may be comprised in thirty numbers, one of which will appear every two months, containing on an average twenty plates.

The number to be printed of the quarto, on India paper, will be strictly limited to one hundred copies.

May 1, 1827.

AND DEDICATED WITH PERMISSION TO

SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE, P. R. A. ACCOMPANIED BY QUOTATIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS.

No. XIII.-CYMBELINE.

EIGHTEEN PLATES.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, STRAND (BOOKSELLER TO THE ROYAL
ACADEMY); C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD,
AND WATERLOO-PLACE, PALL-MALL; BALDWIN AND CRADOCK,
PATERNOSTER-ROW; AND J. BOOKER, NEW BOND-STREET.
TO BE HAD ALSO OF MR. F. HOWARD, NO. 16, SOUTHAMPTON-STREET,
BLOOMSBURY, OR No. 5, NEWMAN-STREET, OXFORD-STREET.

*

1829.

(Price Twelve Shillings.)

* The preceding Numbers may be had separately.

NO. XIV., CONTAINING KING JOHN AND CORIOLANUS, WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE FIRST OF JULY.

DAVISON,

WHITEFRIARS.