Bardolph, from "Twelve Characters from Shakespeare" 1775

Editor: Here we have John Hamilton Mortimer's "Bardolph, from 'Twelve Characters from Shakespeare'," created around 1775. It’s an engraving, part of a series, I believe. The texture is so finely wrought, it almost gives a sculptural feel, and there's such character in the subject's face. What resonates most with you when you look at this, as an iconographer? Curator: The face is precisely what draws me in. It’s a study in contrasts – the finely etched lines give the impression of age and experience, almost world-weariness. Bardolph, in Shakespeare, is a symbol himself – representing the follies and excesses that accompany war and loyalty. Mortimer isn't just giving us a portrait; he's capturing the *essence* of a well-known character from the public imagination. Editor: You see a lot of symbolism packed in that character! The quote inscribed below the image… does that give us any hints about its meaning? Curator: Absolutely. Words paired with the visual create an amplified symbolic language, helping define Mortimer's commentary. Here, he evokes specific qualities associated with Bardolph: drunkeness, disease. Notice also that Mortimer presents Bardolph not heroically, but rather as a figure trapped, his humanity dimmed. It makes one think about broader themes like war and mortality. Editor: It sounds like the lasting appeal might be how the work reveals these larger commentaries on timeless themes. Curator: Precisely. Shakespeare provides a cast of iconic figures; Bardolph embodies flaws of humankind that translate into commentaries about society. It makes Mortimer’s rendering of him surprisingly relevant across centuries. Editor: So much to think about. Thanks!