Hamlet: Act IV, Scene V (Ophelia and Laertes)

Benjamin West, an American colonist who settled in London in 1763, later became the second president of the Royal Academy of Arts. Like many Academicians, he was drawn to Shakespeare—not only for the rich dramatic possibilities his plays provided, but also for their strong national associations with English cultural identity. West's painting, depicting Act 4, Scene 5 of Hamlet, was created for an ambitious speculative venture launched in London in the 1790s. Each painting in the project illustrated a scene from a Shakespeare play, and the organizers planned to finance the effort by selling prints made after the artworks. The scheme ultimately failed, and the paintings were dispersed in 1805.

P.S. From classic drama to vivid portraits, the Masterpieces 50 Postcards Set captures 50 works every art lover should know. Don’t wait—these sets are flying off the shelves!

P.P.S. Many artists were inspired by Shakespeare's captivating stories. Explore Shakespeare's plays in art!