#Henry Courtney Selous

[the-evil-clergyman]

The Birth of Venus by Henry Courtney Selous (1852)

[uwmspeccoll]

Shakespeare Weekend

Working our way through the Shakespeare Collection, our next stop is The Plays of Shakespeare edited and annotated by Charles (1787-1877) and Mary Cowden Clarke (1809-1898) and illustrated by H.C. Selous (1803-1890). The collection was published by Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co., likely in the mid to late 1860s and consists of three volumes each arranging the plays into comedies, histories, and tragedies.  

Scholarly English authors Charles and Mary Cowden Clark refer to the collection as the “People’s Edition” stating their intention for the work to be read within the household and among family circles. Keeping young readers in mind, the plays are annotated for a novice Shakespearean audience and Titus Andronicus is omitted from the collection due to its “grossness”. Additionally, the collection is heavily illustrated by Selous with wood engravings, providing valuable imagery for those unfamiliar with Shakespeare’s plays.  

Volume One contains all of Shakespeare’s comedies and opens with a full-page frontispiece of the author.  

View more Shakespeare Weekend posts. 

-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

[the-lost-lamb]

Aphrodite by Henry Courtney Selous 1874.

[voyage-of-venus]

I was just accepted to two master’s degree programs in Art History! I am so excited!! 

And thank you all so much for following & supporting my little art and art history blog! I so appreciate all the reblogs, likes, and activity ♡

To celebrate, I offer you The Birth of Venus, 1852, by Henry Courtney Selous

[briannabug]

Aphrodite, Henry Courtney Selous, 1874

[mysterious-secret-garden]

Henry Courtney Selous - Romeo and Juliet.

[r1pper]

Mighty aphrodite rising out of the sea foam

Henry Courtney Selous (1852)

[missanthropicprinciple]

The Tempest by Henry Courtney Selous

in love with this framed print i bought today

[seafoamsister]

┊ ➶ ｡˚ "mighty aphrodite rising out of the sea foam" henry courtney selous (1803-1890)°

happy april 3, this is dedicated to aphrodite !! blessed be ♡

[daddyfuckedme]

The Birth of Venus ~ 1852 ~ Henry Courtney Selous (English artist, 1803-1890)

[mermaidenmystic]

“Ariel: On the bat’s back I do fly. After summer, merrily. Merrily, merrily shall I live now, under the blossom that hangs on the bough."

from William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" ~ 1870 ~ illustrated by Henry Courtney Selous (English artist, 1803-1890)

[uwmspeccoll]

Shakespeare Weekend

The Plays of Shakespeare was published by Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co., likely in the late 1860s or early 1870s and consists of three volumes each arranging the plays into comedies, histories, and tragedies with many illustrations as Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare. Englishman John Cassell (1817-1865) was a tea and coffee merchant who pivoted into publishing in 1848 with the weekly newspaper The Standard of Freedom and expanded to the Illustrated Family Paper in 1853. When Cassell was unexpectedly called to pay back an advancement to his paper supplier, he turned to printing firm partners George Petter (1823-1888) and Thomas Galpin (1828-1910) for financial support. The three men went into a full partnership in 1859 and found great success in publishing illustrated editions of classic literature, including the popular Illustrated Family Bible. 

It is from their illustration craze that The Plays of Shakespeare was born. Edited and annotated by Charles (1787-1877) and Mary Cowden Clark (1809-1898) and illustrated with wood engravings from drawings by H.C. Selous (1803-1890), the three-volume collection is brimming with detailed illustrations of the plays geared toward families and young readers. Volume Two contains Shakespeare’s historical plays. 

View more Shakespeare Weekend posts. 

-Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern 

[tournevole]

The Birth of Venus ~ 1852 ~ Henry Courtney Selous

[weantuniverse]

From 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' illustrated by Henry Courtney Selous, 1866. (via Facebook)

[aphroditehearmyprayer]

"As Venus, pedestaled on half-shell Shawled in blond hair and salt"

Sylvia Plath, Heavy Women (1961)

Henry Courtney Selous, Aphrodite (1874)

[sound-of-ocean]

“Run your morning bath in sea foam Soak your milky skin in the tide Little pearl, you think you're in gold But I can see the dirt in your lines”

I love that this song is a narration of Hephaestus’ thoughts/emotions towards Aphrodite.

Credits:

Lyrics: “Alrighty Aphrodite”, Peach Pit

Art 1: “The Birth of Venus” by Henry Courtney Selous, 1852.

Art 2: “Lady holding a dish of pearls” by Pierre Mignard (cropped detail)