The profile of an actor in the role of a Spanish nobleman bears a strong resemblance to that of David Garrick, in costume on stage looking left, arm raised in a dramatic gesture. Garrick's rule over the English stage was absolute for over thirty years. He went to London with Dr. Johnson in 1737, and by 1741 had progressed to his famous portrayal of Richard III, which made his reputation. Garrick was accomplished in seventeen Shakespearian roles and was also a gifted playwright and producer
Alternative Title:
Shadow box framed depiction David Garrick on stage
Description:
One of a pair of shadowboxes. The other box was titled in the 2005 Christie's appraisal: A shadowbox framed depiction of two actors in performance. and Provenance from a label affixed to the top of one of a pair of boxes, in Mrs. Lewis hand.
The dancer wearing a Roman toga is perhaps David Garrick, with Mrs. Siddons accompanying him on the lute. In his imaginary journey through time, Three tours through London in the years 1748, 1776, 1797 (New Haven, 1941), Wilmarth S. Lewis 'goes' to the London theatre of 1776 where "Garrick still requires that those playing a scene with him shall turn their backs to the audience when addresssing him so that there will be no question whatever of its attention being diverted from him. Failure to observe this rule ... caused young Mrs. Siddons to fall into disfavour and contributed to her dismissal from the company."
Alternative Title:
Shadow box framed depiction two actors in performance
Description:
One of a pair of shadowboxes. The other box is titled: A shadowbox framed depiction David Garrick on stage. and Provenance from a label affixed to the top of one of a pair of boxes, in Mrs. Lewis hand.
Subject (Name):
Garrick, David, 1717-1779. and Siddons, Sarah, 1755-1831.
One of a collection of four similar images; the other three images are titled: Mr. Kean as Othello; Miss Hargraves as Amy; Madame Vestris as Don Giovani. Formerly part of an album (now lost), each on the same size sheet but different colors and collages attributed to different artists. Annotations in red ink are by the same hand. Presumably these collages, constructed using the same fabrics, were made by friends and exchanged as gifts. In this collage a full-length image of a woman, identified as Miss Bartolozzi, with her head and neck, hands, and boots cut from an unidentifed print or prints while her costume and hat and their trimming are cut from satin cloth with additional decorated paper trimming. On the verso in two columns written in red ink and ruled in red ink: On the left the title of a poem only "Lines on my garden". On the right: Song, "My own Blue Bell".
Description:
Title written below image., Artist statement written at top of sheet; "Master Butcher" is unidentified., and Date of production from recipient's note on the verso of one of the collages and other internal evidence.
Subject (Name):
Vestris, Lucia Elizabeth Bartolozzi, 1797-1856, and Da Ponte, Lorenzo, 1749-1838.
One of a collection of four similar images; the other three images are titled: Mr. Kean as Othello; Miss Hargraves as Amy; Miss Bartolozzi as the page in The marriage of Figaro. Formerly part of an album (now lost), each on the same size sheet but different colors and attributed to different artists. Annotations in red ink are by the same hand. Presumably these collages, made using the same farbics, were made by friends and exchanged as gifts. In this collage a full-length image of a woman, identified as Miss Vestris: her head and neck, arms, and boots have been cut from an unidentifed print or prints while her costume and hat and their trimming are cut from satin cloth with additional decorated paper trimming. On the verso written in red ink, two poems: "The Snow Drop by Henry Neele" and "I Saw Thee Weep, Byron" transcribed in two columns
Alternative Title:
Madame Vestris as Don Giovanni
Description:
Title written at bottom of sheet., Signed with initials in lower right corner; artist "H.A.S" is unidentified., Date of production from recipient's note on the verso of one of the collages and other internal evidence., and The poem on verso "The Snow Drop" in the Oriental Herald and Journal of General Literature, volume 16, page 502 and signed "W. B." Also published in May 1828 in the The Ariel: A literary and cricial gazette (Philadelphia), vol. 2. no.1.
Subject (Name):
Vestris, Lucia Elizabeth Bartolozzi, 1797-1856,, Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791., and Da Ponte, Lorenzo, 1749-1838.
Subject (Topic):
Characters, Actresses, British, and Operas & operettas
