Peg Woffington
1 portrait
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Peg Woffington
by John Lewis
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1753
29 7/8 in. x 24 7/8 in. (760 mm x 633 mm)
Purchased, 1984
Primary Collection
NPG 5729
On display in Room 18 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
Sitterback to top
- Margaret ('Peg') Woffington (1720?-1760), Actress. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.
Artistback to top
- John Lewis (active 1739-1769), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 2 portraits.
This portraitback to top
This portrait shows Woffington shortly before her retirement from the stage in 1754.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Smartify image discovery app
- Cullen, Fintan, The Irish Face: Redefining the Irish Portrait, 2004, p. 117
- 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. 79
- Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 120
- Ribeiro, Aileen; Blackman, Cally, A Portrait of Fashion: Six Centuries of Dress at the National Portrait Gallery, 2015, p. 132
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 673
Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top
- The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn to Sarah Siddons (20 October 2011 - 8 January 2012)
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1753back to top
Current affairs
After a month's absence, servant Elizabeth Canning returns to her mother's house claiming that she was abducted. The following trial causes uproar and becomes one of the most famous criminal mysteries of the century.Hardwicke's Marriage Act (named after its champion Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke) is passed, aimed at preventing clandestine marriages.
Art and science
Artist Joshua Reynolds establishes his portrait practice in London.Swiss painter and pastellist Jean-Etienne Liotard arrives in London where he enjoys great success until his departure in 1756.
International
George Washington undertakes a difficult and ineffectual journey to persuade the French to withdraw from the Ohio valley.First steam engine arrives in the American colonies.
First official celebration of St Patrick's Day on 17 March, organised by the Charitable Irish Society in Boston.
Britain, Austria and Modena sign a secret military treaty.
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Susan Wilson (NPG The Late Shift Artist)
29 January 2016, 13:04
Mentioned by Claire Tomalin p48 Mrs Jordan's Profession as being given up by Garrick (she was his mistress) when he felt the need to become a "sober and serious husband"