David Garrick (1717-1779), Actor, playwright and theatre manager
Sitter associated with 55 portraits
David Garrick was born in Hereford but, like Dr Johnson, grew up in Lichfield. When Johnson opened his ill-fated school in 1735, Garrick was one of the few pupils, and the two men travelled to London together in March 1737. Garrick first acted on the London stage in 1741 and quickly became one of the most successful figures in British theatre. He was acclaimed for his naturalistic style of acting and his versatility, performing in both comic and tragic roles. Both as an actor and as manager of Drury Lane Theatre, he changed the face of theatrical performance. Throughout his life, he and Johnson remained friends although, at times, Johnson disliked Garrick's vanity and 'buffoonery'.
'Blowing up the Pic Nic's; - or - Harlequin Quixotte attacking the puppets'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 2 April 1802
NPG D12786
David Garrick ('Richard the Third')
by William Bromley, after John Boultbee, after Francis Hayman
stipple and line engraving, after 1806 (1760)
NPG D34387
Facsimile of the Proportions of Garrick and Quin (David Garrick; James Quin)
by Thomas Cook, published by Longman, Hurst, Rees & Orme, possibly after William Hogarth
etching, published 1808 (1746)
NPG D23497
by William Skelton, published by Colnaghi & Co, after Robert Edge Pine
line engraving, published 1 November 1818 (1775-1780)
NPG D34377
by E.J. Portbury, after William Hogarth
line engraving, mid 19th century (1741)
NPG D8363
by James Scott, after Thomas Gainsborough
mezzotint, 1850s-1880s (1766-1769)
NPG D2418
'A literary party at Sir Joshua Reynolds's'
by D. George Thompson, published by Owen Bailey, after James William Edmund Doyle
stipple and line engraving, published 1 October 1851
NPG D14518
Garrick surrounded by his friends
by George Salisbury Shury, published by A.J. Isaacs, after William Hogarth
stipple engraving and mezzotint, published 20 August 1866
NPG D34380
by T. Clerk, published by Robert Scholey, after William Hogarth
line engraving, (1746)
NPG D14116
published by John Payne
etching, published circa 1750-1775
NPG D14183
by James Macardell, published by Robert Sayer, after Jean Etienne Liotard
mezzotint, circa 1750-1775
NPG D19570
by Richard Purcell (Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed for Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760-1761)
NPG D19234
by John Finlayson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1 February 1769
NPG D19353
'Blowing up the Pic Nic's; - or - Harlequin Quixotte attacking the puppets'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 2 April 1802
NPG D13699
by Samuel Freeman, published by Vernor, Hood & Sharpe, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1 June 1807
NPG D15308
Garrick's Temple to Shakespeare, Twickenham, Surrey
Category
Literature, Journalism and Publishing
Theatre and Live Entertainment
Groups
Actors and actresses
Bluestocking circle
Johnson Literary Club
Playwrights and dramatists
Places
Herefordshire
London
