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Secondary sourcePhotograph1911

Stratford Bust of William Shakespeare Photograph

Harold Baker · 1911

A 1911 photograph of the carved bust of William Shakespeare at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

This photograph documents the memorial bust of Shakespeare at his burial church in Stratford-upon-Avon.

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Black-and-white photograph of a carved bust of a balding man with a short mustache, wearing a gown with a white collar, set in an arched niche beside a stone column. A partly blurred pillar stands in the foreground on the right.
Harold Baker, photograph of the Stratford Bust of William Shakespeare, 1911.

About this source

What it is

This black-and-white photograph, taken in 1911 by Harold Baker, shows the carved bust of William Shakespeare located at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon. The bust depicts a balding man with a short mustache wearing a gown with a white collar, set in an arched niche.

Why it matters

The Stratford bust is one of the earliest and most trusted images of Shakespeare, created near his burial place not long after his death. This photograph shows how the monument appeared in the early 20th century, helping later generations study its details.

Why it matters

Look closer

  • What details of the bust's clothing and expression stand out to you?
  • Why might this bust be considered a more reliable likeness than later portraits made long after Shakespeare's death?
  • How does photographing a monument like this help preserve historical memory?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Shakespeare on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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