Mr. Garrick in the Character of King Lear (Shakespeare, King Lear, Act 3, Scene 1)
Medium
Mezzotint; second state
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed within plate): 16 1/8 × 20 1/4 in. (41 × 51.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953
Accession Number
53.600.1463
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking mezzotint captures the celebrated actor David Garrick in the role of King Lear during the storm scene from Shakespeare’s tragedy (Act 3, Scene 1). Created in 1761 by engraver James McArdell after a design by Benjamin Wilson, the print portrays the aging monarch at his most vulnerable, raging against betrayal and nature’s fury. The large format and dramatic composition reflect the theatrical intensity that made Garrick’s performances legendary in 18th-century London. Mezzotint, the medium employed here, was prized for its ability to produce rich, velvety blacks and subtle tonal g...