engraving on paper, published by James Keith, Edinburgh, James McClure & Son, Glasgow, Lloyd Brothers, London, Williams, Stevens, & Williams, New York, 1857, blind stamp: Printsellers Association, facsimile signature of each person pictured (scarce version of this print)
About the Print
James Faed engraving of John Faed’s 1851 painting of the same title, depicting Shakespeare at the Mermaid Tavern in London for a meeting of the Friday Street Club (named for the tavern’s address). Sir Walter Raleigh founded the group, a gathering of men of letters. The owner of the Mermaid, William Johnson, was a business associate of Shakespeare, but we do not know if Shakespeare actually attended the meetings.
This scene depicts a hall of fame of English Literature, Faed puts Shakespeare in the center of the group, which includes Sir Francis Bacon, John Donne, Ben Jonson, and Sir Walter Raleigh.
Seen with Shakespeare and Raleigh are Thomas Dorset; Josuah Sylvester; William Camden; John Selden; Francis Beaumont; John Fletcher; Francis Bacon; Ben Jonson; Samuel Daniel; John Donne; Henry Wriothesley Southampton; Robert Cotton; Thomas Dekker; and Thomas Sackville Dorset.
The Artist: John Faed
John Faed, the eldest brother in a remarkably artistic family, was born in Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland in 1819. By the age of nine, he was painting miniatures of local dignitaries. In 1840, he left his native town for Edinburgh, in order to further his career. From 1841 to 1895, he exhibited his work at the Royal Scottish Academy, where he became a full member in 1851. John painted mostly Scottish historical and literary scenes, inspired by the writings of Scott, Burns, and Shakespeare. In 1864, he moved to London, but eventually moved back to his native town of Gatehouse of Fleet in 1880.
The Engraver: James Faed
James Faed, John's Faed younger brother, was born in 1821 in Gatehouse of Fleet, Scotland. He became a well-known engraver and executed over 140 plates for many contemporary artists including Sir Daniel Macnee, Sir Francis Grant and Sir Joseph Noel Paton. His portrait engravings became widely in demand, and he even was commissioned to engrave a royal portrait of Queen Victoria and Prince Arthur. James died suddenly in Edinburgh in 1911 at the age of ninety.