Mr. Garrick in the Character of King Lear (Shakespeare, King Lear, Act 3, Scene 1)

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 gradations—ideal for conveying the emotional turbulence of the scene. As a reproductive print, it allowed theatergoers and art enthusiasts to own a memento of Garrick’s groundbreaking interpretation, which helped revive interest in Shakespeare’s original texts during an era when adaptations often softened the plays. Today, this work in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection highlights the vibrant intersection of theater, literature, and visual art in Georgian Britain. It preserves not only a specific performance but also the cultural enthusiasm for Shakespeare that flourished in the mid-1700s.

About the Artist

James McArdell|Benjamin Wilson|David Garrick|William Shakespeare · 1729–1765

**James MacArdell** (c. 1729 – 2 June 1765) was an Irish mezzotint engraver renowned for his masterful portraits of prominent figures in 18th-century Britain and Ireland. Born in Cow Lane (later Greek Street) in Dublin’s St Michan’s Parish, he trained under the engraver John Brooks. When Brooks relocated to London in 1746, MacArdell followed along with fellow pupils including Charles Spooner, esta...