Not on display

David Garrick as Richard III

Figurine
ca.1840 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable figures appear to be of Queen Victoria. Production of earthenware figures continued throughout Victoria's lifetime, but although they were still made after her death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday, however, they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. They represented a wide variety of subjects but those of actors and actresses were especially popular. This flatback represents David Garrick as Richard III in the famous tent scene before the Battle of Bosworth, haunted by the ghosts of those he has murdered. It was modelled after a painting of 1745 by William Hogarth which was later reproduced in engravings. In the painting his hand is raised in a gesture of horror and not as the rather benign royal wave it appears to be in the flatback.

David Garrick (1717-1779) was recognised during his lifetime as one of the greatest actors in both comedy and tragedy. He was born in Hereford, came to London in 1737 to work as a wine merchant but made his London debut as an actor at Goodman's Fields as Richard III in 1741. He managed the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, from 1747 until 1776 and was depicted in many of his most famous roles during his lifetime, especially in paintings by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810). Richard III was a role with which he was especially associated, both from his London debut and from his first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre on 11 May 1742.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDavid Garrick as Richard III (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Glazed earthenware
Brief description
Glazed earthenware figure of David Garrick (1717-1779) as Richard III in Shakespeare's tragedy Richard III which he first played at Goodman's Fields, 19 October 1741. Staffordshire, ca.1840
Physical description
Glazed earthenware flatback figure of David Garrick as Richard III seated in a white tent, the very top part of which is missing, his right arm raised, his left hand resting on the bench on which he is sitting. His coat is painted green with a textured 'ermine' border and there are gilt details on the tent and on his costume. His hair, moustache and goatee beard are painted light brown. Strips of green baize have been glued to the perimeter of the base by a previous owner.
Dimensions
  • Maximum height height: 19.3cm
  • Maximum width width: 15.0cm
  • Of base width: 14.7cm
  • Of base depth: 5.8cm
Credit line
Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996
Object history
David Garrick first played Richard III at Goodman's Fields in October 1741 but returned to the part several times during his career. The source of this figure is an engraving made after a painting by Hogarth entitled 'Nightmare Scene', showing Garrick in the role. This figure was issued in three sizes, the largest of which featured the words 'Richard the Third' on the base.
Production
The flatback was modelled after the 1745 oil painting by William Hogarth of Richard III in his tent before the Battle of Bosworth.
Subjects depicted
Associations
Summary
Earthenware flatbacks and figurines for mantelpiece decoration were first produced in Staffordshire in the late 1830s. The earliest datable figures appear to be of Queen Victoria. Production of earthenware figures continued throughout Victoria's lifetime, but although they were still made after her death in 1901, few appear to have been produced after 1905. During their heyday, however, they were produced in vast numbers, usually modelled after prints. They represented a wide variety of subjects but those of actors and actresses were especially popular. This flatback represents David Garrick as Richard III in the famous tent scene before the Battle of Bosworth, haunted by the ghosts of those he has murdered. It was modelled after a painting of 1745 by William Hogarth which was later reproduced in engravings. In the painting his hand is raised in a gesture of horror and not as the rather benign royal wave it appears to be in the flatback.

David Garrick (1717-1779) was recognised during his lifetime as one of the greatest actors in both comedy and tragedy. He was born in Hereford, came to London in 1737 to work as a wine merchant but made his London debut as an actor at Goodman's Fields as Richard III in 1741. He managed the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, from 1747 until 1776 and was depicted in many of his most famous roles during his lifetime, especially in paintings by Johann Zoffany (1733-1810). Richard III was a role with which he was especially associated, both from his London debut and from his first appearance at Drury Lane Theatre on 11 May 1742.

Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Victoria Staffordshire Figures 1835-1875 by A & N Harding, 1998. p.297, fig.1079
Collection
Accession number
S.1060-1996

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Record createdDecember 29, 2005
Record URL
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