David Garrick; Eva Maria Garrick (née Veigel)

Sittersback to top

• David Garrick (1717-1779), Actor, playwright and theatre manager. Sitter associated with 55 portraits.
• Eva Maria Garrick (née Veigel) (1724-1822), Dancer; wife of David Garrick. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist associated with 1413 portraits, Sitter associated with 38 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Garrick made his first appearance on the London stage in 1741. His distinguishing characteristic was what Samuel Johnson called his 'universality'. A close friend of Reynolds, he was painted by the artist on several occasions, notably as The Actor torn between Tragedy and Comedy, in 1762. In this portrait by the artist, David and Eva Garrick, the Viennese dancer whom he married in 1749, are depicted in the garden of their country house at Hampton in Middlesex. The Maratta frame, a classical type used by Reynolds, is probably the original in which the picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1773.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 59
• Gibson, Robin, Treasures from the National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 65
• Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 184
• Perry, Gill (introduction) Roach, Joseph (appreciation) and West, Shearer (appreciation), The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 2011 to 8 January 2012), p. 100
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 128
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 238
• Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame: Artists, Patrons and the Framing of Portraits in Britain, 1997 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 8 November 1996 - 9 February 1997), p. 95
• Uglow, Jenny, Character Sketches: Dr Johnson, His Club and Other Friends, 1998, p. 22
• Wendorf, Richard, Sir Joshua Reynolds: The Portrait in Society, 1996, p. 80

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons (20 October 2011 - 8 January 2012)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Couples
• Family and children tour
• Landscapes
• On display at the Gallery