The Ghost in Hamlet
Artist
Thomas Gould
(American, 1818–1881)
Date1880
Mediummarble
Dimensions51.4 × 41.9 × 16.5 cm (20 1/4 × 16 1/2 × 6 1/2 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineMrs. Kingsmill Marrs Collection and Grenville H. Norcross
Terms
Object number1916.20
Label TextThis sculptural relief depicts the ghost of the murdered king of Denmark in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet (probably written 1599-1601). The ghost repeatedly materializes in the play to spur his son, Prince Hamlet, to avenge his death at the hands of his brother Claudius, the current king. Sculptor Thomas Gould based his composition on the character Horatio’s description: “Such was the very armour he had on/When he the ambitious Norway combated; /So frown’d he once, when, in an angry parle/He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.” (Act I, Scene I, ll. 76-80)
Thomas Gould came to sculpture in mid-life. Although his style was deeply influenced by the Classical art he saw abroad in Italy, he gained attention for combining it with themes from Shakespeare such as this one. His fusion of an antique style with dramatic literary themes proved successful with clients.
On View
Not on viewCollections
Hiram Powers
designed 1846; sculpted 1846–1847
