David Garrick as John Brute in 'The Provok'd Wife' by Vanbrugh, Drury Lane, 1763

David Garrick as John Brute in The Provok'd Wife from 1763 shows the great actor in one of his most famous comic roles. Johann Zoffany's theatrical portraits captured Garrick at the height of his powers, documenting the performances that made him the most celebrated actor in eighteenth-century England. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays meticulous detail in costume and setting, warm intimate lighting, vivid individual characterization that preserves the energy of live performance.

The theatrical portrait captures Garrick's dramatic gesture and facial expression in character, with Zoffany's precise technique rendering the stage costume and dramatic lighting with equal care.