David Garrick
(1717-1779), Actor, playwright and theatre managerMid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 60 portraits
Garrick was born in Hereford and grew up in Lichfield, Staffordshire. When Samuel Johnson opened his ill-fated school in 1735, Garrick was one of the few pupils. Perhaps recognising their mutual ambition, the two men travelled to London together in March 1737, taking turns to ride on their shared horse. Garrick first appeared on the London stage in 1741 and went on to achieve huge success as an actor, playwright and theatre manager, becoming the most celebrated theatrical personality of the eighteenth century. He was acclaimed for his naturalistic style and his versatility in both comic and tragic roles. He transformed what it meant to be an actor, no longer simply an entertainer but a pillar of British culture.
by Benjamin Wilson
oil on canvas, circa 1752-1755
NPG 6249
after Louis François Roubiliac
plaster painted terracotta, circa 1758
NPG 707a
studio of Johan Joseph Zoffany
oil on canvas, feigned oval, 1763
NPG 1167
David Garrick as Kitely in 'Every Man in his Humour'
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1768
NPG 4504
by Thomas Gainsborough
oil on canvas, 1770
On display at Gainsborough's House, Sudbury
NPG 5054
by Nathaniel Dance (later Sir Nathaniel Holland, Bt)
pencil, 1771
NPG 3639
David Garrick; Eva Maria Garrick (née Veigel)
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1772-1773
On display in Room 18 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5375
by John Keyse Sherwin
pencil, circa 1774
NPG 1187
by Robert Edge Pine
oil on canvas, circa 1775
NPG 82
'The Provok'd Wife' (David Garrick and two unknown women)
published by John Bell
etching, published in 'Bell's British Theatre' 16th October 1794
On display in Room 11 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L269.B8.20
by Thomas Worlidge
etching, circa 1740-1766
NPG D19381
by and published by J. Wood, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 29 April 1745
NPG D42976
by and published by J. Wood, after Arthur Pond
line engraving, published 29 April 1745
NPG D19067
David Garrick ('Mr Garrick in the Character of Richard III')
by Charles Grignion, by and after William Hogarth
line engraving, published 20 June 1746 (1741)
NPG D34378
David Garrick ('Mr Garrick in the Character of Richard III')
by Charles Grignion, by and after William Hogarth
line engraving, published 20 June 1746 (1741)
NPG D34381
by T. Clerk, published by Robert Scholey, after William Hogarth
line engraving, (1746)
NPG D14116
published by John Payne
etching, published circa 1750-1775
NPG D14183
by and sold by James Macardell, after Jean Etienne Liotard
mezzotint, (1751)
NPG D34373
Tell us more back to top
Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.
If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.
Please note that we cannot provide valuations.
We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.