The Pale Complexion of True Love

(click to enlarge)

Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale

(English, 1871-1945)

The Pale Complexion of True Love, 1899

Watercolor and bodycolor

The title is taken from Shakespeare's As You Like It, Act III, when Corin speaks of Silvius' unrequired love for Phebe as

a pageant truly play'd,
Between the pale complexion of true love
And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain

  (Info from Pre Raphaelite Art blog.)

If Music Be the Food of Love

(click to enlarge)

William A. Breakspeare

(English, 1855-1914)

If Music Be the Food of Love, ????

Oil on canvas

The title is taken from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night:

If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.

 I wonder if the whole quote is supposed to apply to the painting. I'm still not sure of the expression on the girl's face, but she seems rather sad. And the man just looks evil. But it's a gorgeous and very interesting painting, so enlarge it and check it out!

Miss Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth

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John Singer Sargent

(American, 1856-1925)

Miss Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth, 1889

Oil on Canvas

Her dress was decorated with beetle wings! You can see it here

Juliet

 (click to enlarge)

John William Waterhouse

(English, 1849-1917)

Juliet, 1898

Oil on canvas

Juliet from Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. I'm sure the plot is well known enough that I don't need to post a summary. Whether you like the play or not, it's a pretty painting. :)

Portia

(click to enlarge)

Charles E Perugini

(English, 1839-1918)

Portia, ????

Oil on canvas

Portia is a character from Shakespere's play The Merchant of Venice. Does anyone know what scene this is, or if it is a certain scene at all? I'm curious, but it's a gorgeous painting, with or without a story to it. I love every Perugini painting I see! Everything looks so delicate, and the light is gorgeous.

Miranda - The Tempest

(click to enlarge) 

John William Waterhouse

(English, 1849-1917)

Miranda - The Tempest, 1916

Oil on canvas

    If by your art, my dearest father, you have
    Put the wild waters in this roar, allay them.
    The sky, it seems, would pour down stinking pitch,
    But that the sea, mounting to the welkin's cheek,
    Dashes the fire out. O, I have suffered
    With those that I saw suffer: a brave vessel,
    Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her,
    Dash'd all to pieces.
    (The Tempest, I.ii.1–8)

This painting shows Miranda (from Shakespeare's The Tempest) watching a ship toss and turn in a storm Prospero (her father) created purposely to crash the ship.

It was hard to find a high quality photo of this painting and, though the one above is very nice, I think the coloring might be a bit off. So here is a smaller photo with brighter colors:

I love how her hair and her dress are flying in the wind. You can definitely tell there's a tempest happening! And the painting fits the text so well. Just look at how her hand is against her heart,

O, the cry did knock

Against my very heart.

(The Tempest, I.ii.8–9)