Frances Abington (née Barton)
(1737-1815), ActressSitter in 18 portraits
Born near the Strand, Abington would acquire the nickname Nosegay Fan after the small flower bouquets she sold on the streets of London from a young age. A popular singer and street entertainer, she became a servant to a French milliner before being encouraged by Samuel Foote to join the Drury Lane company. Abington found the stage dominated by the actresses Kitty Clive and Hannah Pritchard and moved to Ireland to pursue acting, returning to Drury Lane on David Garrick's insistence in 1759. Popular comic roles and a controversial personal life would afford her a house in Pall Mall and a style that was adopted by the fashionable circle. Joshua Reynolds painted her portrait multiple times and the 'Abington cap' was named after a head dress she wore in a production.
Frances Abington (née Barton) as Roxalana in Bickerstaff's 'The Sultan'
by William Ridley, published by Thomas Bellamy, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple, published 30th December 1797
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B7.29
Mary Ann Yates; Frances Abington (née Barton) in the characters of the Tragic and Comic Muses
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1760s
NPG D8956
Mary Ann Yates; Frances Abington (née Barton) in the characters of the Tragic and Comic Muses
after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1760s
NPG D8957
Mary Ann Yates; Frances Abington (née Barton) in the characters of the Tragic and Comic Muses
after Unknown artist
hand-coloured line engraving, circa 1760s
NPG D8958
Frances Abington (née Barton) as Thalia
by James Watson, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1769
NPG D7153
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 1783
NPG D968
by James Caldwall (Caldwell), by S. Smith, after and published by George Carter
line engraving, published 20 January 1783
NPG D18114
Frances Abington (née Barton) as Scrub in the 'Beaux' Stratagem'
after James Sayers
etching, (1786)
NPG D2050
Frances Abington (née Barton) ('Scrub')
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 15 February 1786
NPG D9580
Frances Abington (née Barton) ('Scrub')
by James Sayers, published by Thomas Cornell
etching, published 15 February 1786
NPG D14774
Frances Abington (née Barton) as Roxalana
by John Keyse Sherwin, published by John Thane, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
stipple engraving, published 1 February 1791 (1782-1783)
NPG D14220
by Joseph Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Isaac Taylor
line engraving, published 21 April 1792
NPG D969
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1835
NPG D5610
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
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1876
NPG D5611
Frances Abington (née Barton) as Miss Prue in Congreve's 'Love for Love'
by Robert Bowyer Parkes, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1876
NPG D7152
by Francesco Bartolozzi, after Richard Cosway
stipple engraving, published 1783
NPG D19900
by Elizabeth Judkins, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1876
NPG D7151
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