David Garrick (1717-1779) actor, playwright and theatre manager

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

One of the founders of the 18th-century British landscape school, Thomas Gainsborough was also the creator of the so-called ‘fancy picture’, depicting rustic figures - usually children - posed in rural settings. Born in Suffolk, he studied in London from about 1739 to 1748 under the French painter and engraver Hubert Gravelot and the British painter Francis Hayman at the St Martin’s Lane Academy. Gainsborough returned to Suffolk in 1748, where he worked as a landscape and portrait painter until 1759, before moving to Bath. There he quickly developed into a much sought-after society painter. In 1774, he moved to London where he exhibited his work in his studio. He died in London in 1788.
Valentine Green, engraver of portraits and historical subjects after works by his contemporaries, was born at Salford, Worcestershire. He was intended for a career at the Bar, but without his father’s consent, became apprenticed to an obscure line engraver in Worcester. When he came to London in 1765 he began working in mezzotint and engraved nearly 400 plates over the next 40 years. In 1775 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy and was appointed Mezzotint Engraver to George III. In 1789 he obtained the exclusive privilege of engraving the pictures of the Dusseldorf, but was ruined when the city was besieged in 1798. In 1805 he was made Keeper of the newly founded British Institution, a post he retained until his death.

People

David Garrick (1717 - 1779)

Places

Subjects

bust (as Subject), Shakespeare, William, theatre, actor/actress, male portrait, landscape C18th, tree, 18th century costume, coat, stockings, waistcoat, breeches, walking stick, wig, tricorn hat, shoe, garden, footbridge

Materials & Techniques

mezzotint

Artist

Thomas Gainsborough (1727 - 1788)
Valentine Green (1739 - 1813)

Title

David Garrick (1717-1779) actor, playwright and theatre manager

Date

published 2 April 1769

Medium

Mezzotint

Dimensions

height: 61.00 cm, width: 37.50 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Colnaghi, October 1953

GAC number

2312