National Portrait Gallery - Person

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'.

List Thumbnail

View2040 60results per page

12 3

David Garrick

by Benjamin Wilson
oil on canvas, circa 1752-1755
NPG 6249

David Garrick

after Louis François Roubiliac
plaster painted terracotta, circa 1758
NPG 707a

David Garrick

studio of Johan Joseph Zoffany
oil on canvas, feigned oval, (1763)
On display on Floor 1: Saloon at Beningbrough Hall
NPG 1167

David Garrick as Kitely in 'Every Man in his Humour'

after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, (1768)
NPG 4504

David Garrick

by Thomas Gainsborough
oil on canvas, 1770
NPG 5054

David Garrick

by Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
pencil, 1771
NPG 3639

David Garrick; Eva Maria Garrick (née Veigel)

by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1772-1773
On display in Room 12 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5375

David Garrick

by John Keyse Sherwin
pencil, circa 1774
NPG 1187

David Garrick

by Robert Edge Pine
oil on canvas, circa 1775
NPG 82

David Garrick

by Thomas Worlidge
etching, circa 1740-1766
NPG D19381

David Garrick

by and published by J. Wood, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 29 April 1745
NPG D19067

David Garrick ('Mr Garrick in the Character of Richard III')

by Charles Grignion, by and after William Hogarth
line engraving, published 20 June 1746 (1741)
NPG D34378

David Garrick ('Mr Garrick in the Character of Richard III')

by Charles Grignion, by and after William Hogarth
line engraving, published 20 June 1746 (1741)
NPG D34381

David Garrick

by and sold by James Macardell, after Jean Etienne Liotard
mezzotint, (1751)
NPG D34373

David Garrick; Eva Maria Garrick (née Veigel)

after William Hogarth
photogravure, (1757)
NPG D34379

David Garrick ('Garrick between Comedy and Tragedy')

by Edward Fisher, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint printed in colours, (1760-1761)
NPG D34376

David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour')

by Richard Purcell (Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed by Robert Sayer, printed by Carington Bowles, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760-1761)
NPG D34382