Eva Maria Veigel, Mrs David Garrick (1724-1822)

Eva Maria Veigel, Mrs David Garrick from 1762 depicts the wife of the great actor, who was herself a former Viennese ballet dancer who had performed in London before their marriage. Zoffany's portrait of Mrs Garrick complements his many portraits of her husband and reflects the close social relationship between the two families—the Garricks were among Zoffany's earliest and most important patrons in London. Eva Maria, known for her grace and devoted marriage, outlived her husband by forty-three years and became a celebrated figure of loyalty in Georgian society. Zoffany's portrait captures her with the elegance appropriate to a woman who had been a professional performer and was now mistress of one of the most distinguished theatrical households in England. The work, held by the National Trust, documents an important figure in the cultural life of Georgian London.

The portrait captures Mrs Garrick with warmth and elegance, rendered with Zoffany's characteristic precision in a style that complements his portraits of her famous husband.