Colley Cibber
(1671-1757), Dramatist and actorEarly Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 9 portraits
An actor-manager, dramatist and poet laureate, Cibber produced some thirty plays during his long career. From 1709 to 1733, he managed theatre companies at Drury Lane and the Queen's Theatre making him one of the first in a long line of actor-managers who dominated the London theatre scene. Cibber had made his name on the London stage in 1696 playing the foppish character Sir Novelty Fashion in his own play Love's Last Shift. Soon after, he became one of the leading actors of the day. In 1730, Cibber was appointment as Poet Laureate yet his verses had few admirers, particularly Alexander Pope. But even Cibber acknowledged, self-deprecatingly, that he himself did not think much of his verses.
by Gerard Vandergucht, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
line engraving, published 1740
NPG D20375
by and published by John Simon, after Giuseppe Grisoni
mezzotint, circa 1742 or before
NPG D19294
by Thomas Priscott, published by Charles George Dyer, after Hubert-François Gravelot (né Bourguignon)
etching, circa 1750-1775
NPG D14046
by Edward Fisher, printed for John Spilsbury, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
mezzotint, 1758 (1740)
NPG D2075
by Edward Fisher, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
mezzotint, 1758 (1740)
NPG D18866
after Jean Baptiste van Loo
mezzotint, 19th century
NPG D1448
by Charles William Sherborn, after Jean Baptiste van Loo
etching, 1882
NPG D21192
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