Ira Aldridge as Othello, oil on canvas, 1826
James Northcote, 1746-1831, British. Manchester Art Gallery, UK, from whose website this photo
Ira Aldridge, 1807-1867, was the first African-American – in 1825 – to establish himself professionally abroad (at London’s Royal Coburg Theater).
In 1826 he played Othello.
The actor used his considerable fame to speak out against slavery.
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Othello, act 5, scene 2, of William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, English
Othello, thinking that Desdemona has been unfaitfhul to him, kills her.
A little later, made aware of his error in regarding Desdemona as unfaithful, he stabs himself, falling dead on the bed beside her.
These are almost Othello’s last words:
…. I pray you in your letters,
When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
Othello, marble and bronze, modeled c. 1868, executed 1873.
Pietro Calvi, 1833-1884, Italian. Walters Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland
The sculpture is thought to have been modeled on photographs and prints of the African-American actor, Ira Aldridge.
Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate,
Nor set down aught in malice.
Then must you speak
Of one that loved not wisely, but too well;
Of one not easily jealous, but being wrought,
Perplexed in the extreme,
of one whose hand,
Like the base Indian**, threw a pearl away
Richer than all his tribe;
of one whose subdued eyes
Albeit unused to the melting mood,
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinable gum.**
Set you down this……
*changed from ‘Judaean’ in some versions on the assumption that anti-semitism is more offensive than maligning Indians…
**frankincense and myrrh, resins of trees in the torchwood family; imported to Europe from the Arabian littoral from time immemorial.
Great post, which the various shots make even more dramatic 💖
Thank you, Luisa for your appreciation!
You’re more than welcome 🙏❣️🙏