Robert Thew
Robert Thew was an artist known for producing engraved prints, active over a six-decade period from 1793 to 1855. His documented artistic output focuses heavily on narrative and dramatic subject matter, particularly scenes derived from the works of William Shakespeare.
Thew is represented in major American museum collections, affirming the enduring historical interest in his output. Institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago hold examples of Robert Thew prints. Currently, ten of his prints are documented in museum collections, confirming his contribution to late 18th and early 19th-century printmaking traditions.
A central theme in his repertoire is the interpretation of Shakespearean drama, often capturing pivotal moments. Notable works include the depiction of the tragedy Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus and the Ghost (Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4), the historical scene The Palace at Westminster: King Henry and the Prince of Wales (Shakespeare, King Henry IV, Part 2, Act 4, Scene 4), and the comedic scene Mrs. Ford and Mrs Page (Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor, Act 2, Scene 1).
As works dating from the late Georgian and early Victorian eras, many of Robert Thew’s prints are now in the public domain. This status allows for the dissemination of high-quality prints through institutional archives for scholarly research and appreciation.
