Object of the Day: A Scene from Macbeth by Alexander Johnston, 1877

This expertly rendered steel plate engraving by G. Bertinot dates to 1877 and is based on an original painting by Alexander Johnston (1815-1891). The scene shows the exact moment in Shakespeare’s Macbeth when the title character appears to his wife in Act II, stating, “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?”


The painter, Johnston, famously depicted several scenes from “the Scottish play.” His work is defined by its crisp detail and theatrical lighting. Johnston worked with the engraving to produce a work that accurately reflects the depth and meticulous detail of the original. Such scenes by Johnston have often found their way into books of Shakespeare’s work, however, those later reproductions lack the sharpness of the earlier engraved printings. This engraving was purchased at Forestwood Antiques from Yvette Inness who offers a wide variety of antique engravings in remarkable condition.