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Johan Zoffany (1733 - 1810)

Two Sketches of David Garrick as Abel Drugger in 'The Alchymist'

A196-7; oil on canvas; 33 x 38 cm

Prov: (?)William Alexander

Presented by Chambers Hall, 1855; WA1855.201

Manners and Williamson 1920, p. 225; Webster 1977, no. 58

Although the attribution has been doubted, these are apparently two sketches taken from life. They show Garrick in one of his most celebrated roles, as Abel Drugger in Ben Jonson's The Alchymist. The first sketch was used as a study for Garrick with Burton and Palmer in 'The Alchymist', shown at the Royal Academy in 1770 (formerly at Castle Howard, sold Sotheby's, 29 November 2001, lot 11).

Information derived from the The Ashmolean Museum index.php/complete Illustrated Catalogue of Paintings.