The Ghost of Prince Edward appearing to Clarence in a dream; Act 1, Scene 4 of 'Richard III'

Westall worked on Shakespearean subjects on several occasions; his first project was the illustrations for John Boydell's lavish publication of Shakespeare's Works, which occupied him from 1795-1802. He subsequently painted five pictures for Boydell's Shakespeare Gallery, all of which were engraved.

In the present scene Clarence tells his keeper in the Tower of London of the dream he had, in which he saw himself drown. He then visited the Underworld where he saw himself accused of all the treasons he had committed. Here the ghost of Prince Edward, whom he had helped to kill, appears and curses him and the Furies appear to drag him down to hell.