John Nixon (c. 1750-1818)

Portrait of an actor, traditionally identified as David Garrick

Details

John Nixon (c. 1750-1818)
Portrait of an actor, traditionally identified as David Garrick
signed with intitials and dated 'JN:96' (lower right)
pen and grey ink, blue and grey wash, unframed
6 x 4 in. (16.6 x 10.7 cm.); a wash drawing of The Strand Castle, Winchelsea by Michael 'Angelo' Rooker; and a wash drawing of the Haarlem Gate, Amsterdam, by Robert Hills (3)

Lot Essay

Garrick deid in 1779 so if this drawing is indeed of the famous actor it must have been taken from an earlier image. It has been suggested that the role recorded in the present drawing is that of Don John in The Chances, a picture of which by P.J. de Loutherbourg shows Garrick in a similar plumed headdress.

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