The Shaksper monument (left) is erected on the inside wall, on the north side of the chancel of Holy Trinity Church, at Stratford-upon-Avon, at a distance of about five feet from the floor.
Underneath the floor of the chancel, in front of the monument, are the graves of the actor and his family. The monument was sculptured either by Gerard Johnson or one of his sons. Johnson was a native of Amsterdam, who afterwards came to London to follow his business of sculptor and tomb-maker. In 1593 he had been in England for twenty-six years, and it is quite probable, therefore, that in 1616, when Shaksper died, Gerard Johnson was too old to work himself and allowed one of his sons to make this monument.
The bust and the cushion in front of it are made of bluish limestone, which is quite soft. It is the size of life, and is rough on the back, and there is an indentation at the back of the head. The columns on each side are now of black marble, polished, while their capitals and bases are of freestone, gilded. The columns are of the Corinthian order of architecture.
Above the bust is an arch surmounting the niche in which it rests. Over this are the arms of Shaksper, on either side of which are two cherubim, one of whom holds a spade, and the other an inverted torch, while he rests his hand on a skull. On the apex of the monument is another skull. Underneath the cushion, in front of the bust with an inscription on an oblong tablet.
The right hand holds a pen while the left rests on a paper on the cushion. There was originally a stone pen in the right hand of the effigy, but it is related that a young man who had taken it out of the fingers to examine it, dropped it on the floor of the chancel, where it was broken to pieces. A quill pen dipped in ink now replaces it. The effigy was originally painted in colours to resemble life. The face and hands were of a flesh colour; the eyes of a light hazel; the hair and the beard were auburn. The doublet was scarlet, and the loose gown without sleeves worn over it, was black. The upper portion of the cushion was green, the lower red, with gilt tassels on the corners.
In 1749 the monument had become somewhat dilapidated, and in that year it was repaired. The money for this purpose was raised by a performance of Othello, which was given in the Town Hall, at Stratford-upon-Avon.
Monument of Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey
The monument of Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey is from a design by W. Kent, and was executed by P. Scheemakers. It was erected in 1741. The funds required were raised by two performances given in the theatres, and the committee having the matter in charge consisted of the Earl of Burlington, Dr. Mead, Mr. Pope and Mr. Martin. The poet is represented as leaning his right elbow on some books, which rest on a column. The head of the figure is somewhat like the Chandos portrait; the dress a doublet, knee breeches and cloak, which latter hangs from one shoulder. With his left hand he points to a scroll with an inscription on it from The Tempest. As a work of art it does not rank very high. Several engravings have been made of this monument, the first by J. Maurer in 1742, the next by Miller in mezzotint. The latter is of folio size and very rare.
