David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour')
© National Portrait Gallery, London
David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour')
by Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt), printed for Robert Sayer, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, (1760-1761)
Purchased with help from the Friends of the National Libraries and the Pilgrim Trust, 1966
Reference Collection
NPG D2420
Sitterback to top
- David Garrick (1717-1779), Actor, playwright and theatre manager. Sitter associated with 61 portraits.
Artistsback to top
- Richard Purcell (H. Fowler, Charles or Philip Corbutt) (active 1746-died 1766), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 77 portraits.
- Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1425 portraits, Sitter associated with 40 portraits.
- Robert Sayer (1724 or 1725-1794), Printseller and publisher. Artist or producer associated with 198 portraits.
Related worksback to top
- NPG D19234: David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour') (based on same portrait)
- NPG D34376: David Garrick ('Garrick between Comedy and Tragedy') (based on same portrait)
- NPG D34382: David Garrick ('Strive not Tragedy nor Comedy to Engross a Garrick, who to your Noblest Characters does Equal Honour') (based on same portrait)
- NPG D34383: David Garrick ('Reddere Personae scit convenientia cuique') (based on same portrait)
Placesback to top
- Place made: United Kingdom: England, London (Golden Buck near Serjeants Inn, Fleet Street, London)
Events of 1760back to top
Current affairs
Death of George II on 25 October at the age of 76. George III succeeds to the throne at the age of 22.Art and science
German artist Johan Zoffany arrives in England, where he is instrumental in reviving the 'conversation piece' genre of painting.First public exhibition of paintings in England is held at the Society of Arts' Great Room in the Strand, London.
The Public Ledger is founded; the oldest British periodical with continuous daily publication.
International
Seven Years' War: At the Battle of Carrickfergus in Ireland, a force of French troops captures the town of Carrickfergus before retiring.Surrender of Montreal to the British under General Jeffrey Amherst signals the virtual loss of Canada by the French. British troops oust the Nawab of Bengal Mir Jafar and replace him with Mir Quasim.
Former Chief Tacky leads an unsuccessful slave rebellion in Jamaica, which aims to overthrow British rule.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.