Death Mask of David Garrick
Print
1779 (published)
1779 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Robert Edge Pine (1730-1788), who worked mainly in Bath, based this mezzotint upon his own drawing of the death-mask of David Garrick, publishing it himself in 1779. The image, which is 'brought to life' by the rendering of the actor's famously expressive eyes, is one of the most enigmatic and startling of all eighteenth-century prints, remarkable both technically and for its highly 'modern' feeling of engagement.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Death Mask of David Garrick (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Mezzotint, ink on laid paper |
| Brief description | Mezzotint, scratch letter proof, of The Death Mask of David Garrick, attributed to Robert Edge Pine; Bath, England, 1779 |
| Physical description | Mezzotint of death mask of David Garrick against a black background. Eyes have been articulated. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Proof |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Purchased with funds given by the Garrick Club, London |
| Object history | Purchased Christies South Kensington from collection of Christopher Lennox-Boyd. An early 'scratch-letter proof' state with lettering only lightly indicated. Death mask prints are extremely rare. This is thought to be the only death mask portrait print in mezzotint. |
| Production | Attribution note: 'scratch letter proof' |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Robert Edge Pine (1730-1788), who worked mainly in Bath, based this mezzotint upon his own drawing of the death-mask of David Garrick, publishing it himself in 1779. The image, which is 'brought to life' by the rendering of the actor's famously expressive eyes, is one of the most enigmatic and startling of all eighteenth-century prints, remarkable both technically and for its highly 'modern' feeling of engagement. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.138-2009 |
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| Record created | February 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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