Collection highlights

This 1793 painting, known as Macbeth Consulting the Vision of the Armed Head, depicts Macbeth’s second encounter with the witches.

These images document Shakespearean star David Garrick’s 1753 performance of Romeo and Juliet, from the Folger’s extensive Garrick collection.

These matched images from Measure for Measure are from a unique copy of the Hanmer edition held at the Folger, in which the original watercolor drawings have been inserted near the corresponding engravings.

This 1757 terra-cotta sculpture by Louis François Roubiliac depicts Shakespeare in a pose of creative inspiration.

Each of the painted miniatures on this 1928 Cosway binding represents a famous image, or supposed image, of Shakespeare.

This 1602 legal document confirmed Shakespeare’s title to the second-largest house in Stratford-upon-Avon, known as New Place.

The Globe theater is visible in this engraving by Claes Visscher, first issued in 1616.

This 15th-century staging diagram is from a set of manuscripts known as the Macro Plays.

This setting of a Fulke Greville sonnet, “Who ever thinks or hopes of love for love,” is from the 1597 first edition of English lutenist John Dowland’s First booke of songes.

This scene depicts the visit of a royal relative of England’s Charles I, but it also shows details of daily life in mid-1600s London.

These watercolor illustrations by an anonymous artist show the highly layered clothing of the period.