David Garrick

This portrait of David Garrick records the greatest English actor of the 18th century, whose revolutionary naturalistic acting style transformed British theater. Kauffmann painted Garrick during her London years when she moved in the highest artistic and literary circles, counting Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin West, and Garrick among her close associates. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays graceful, decorative Neoclassicism combining classical subject matter with a lyrical sweetness, soft color, elegant figure types, pendant portraits and mythological scenes.

Kauffmann captures the actor’s celebrated expressiveness through animated features and direct gaze. Her refined portrait technique presents Garrick with the dignity appropriate to his cultural stature.