_Shakspearian Drawings._--I have very recently become possessed of some
curious drawings by Hollar; those relating to Shakspeare very interesting,
evidently done for one Captain John Eyre, who could himself handle the
pencil well.
The inscription under one is as follows, in the writing of the said J.
Eyre:
"Ye house in ye Clink Streete, Southwarke, now belonging to Master
Ralph Hansome, and in ye which Master Shakspeare lodged in ye while he
writed and played at ye Globe, and untill ye yeare 1600 it was at the
time ye house of Grace Loveday. Will had ye two Rooms over against ye
Doorway, as I will possibly show."
Size of the drawing, 12 x 7, "W. Hollar delin., 1643." It is an exterior
view, beautifully executed, showing very prominently the house and a
continuation of houses, forming one side of the street.
The second has the following inscription in the same hand:
"Ye portraiture of ye rooms in ye which Master Will Shakspeare lodged
in Clink Streete, and which is told to us to be in ye same state as
when left by himself, as stated over ye door in ye room, and on the
walls were many printed verses, also a portraiture of Ben Jonson with a
ruff on a pannel."
Size of the drawing 11-5/8 x 6-7/8, "W. Hollar delin., 1643:" shows the
interior of three sides, and the floor and ceiling, with the tables,
chairs, and reading-desk; an open door shows the interior of his
sleeping-room, being over the entrance door porch.