Shakespeare, Hogarth and Garrick: Plays, Painting and Performance

Robin Simons' book explores the genius of Shakespeare,Hogarth, and Garrick, who were closely associated with Shakespeare, shaping the rules for history painting. It offers a fresh examination of theatrical portraits through close analysis of pictures and texts, examining the theatre's central role in British culture and the significance of these figures in the European Enlightenment and Romanticism. The book also reveals the inter-relationship between plays, painting, and performance survived into the age of cinema, revealing the pictorial sources of Laurence Olivier's film Richard III.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing Ltd

In London in 1770, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–1799) uttered a profound observation about the remarkable synergy between Shakespeare, William Hogarth, and David Garrick. Lichtenberg recognized a shared brilliance in their artistic endeavors, acknowledging a profound connection that transcended time. Two and a half centuries later, Robin Simons has taken up this challenge with an exceptionally original and enlightening book.

William Hogarth (1697–1764) and David Garrick (1717–1779) were inseparable companions of Shakespeare, forging a profound relationship between plays, painting, and performance that had been cherished since ancient times. This association played a pivotal role in shaping the rules for history painting established by the Académie royale in Paris in the seventeenth century. History painting was considered the pinnacle of artistic expression, depicting a moment from a revered text in a visually captivating manner. Hogarth's iconic painting, David Garrick as Richard III (1745), revolutionized these conventions by combining the elements of history painting and theatrical portraiture. While it appeared to be a traditional history painting, it was, in fact, a portrait of an actor in performance. With this masterpiece, Hogarth established a new genre of theatrical portraiture, a distinctly British form of history painting.

This book delves into a fresh examination of theatrical portraits by closely analyzing the images and the texts employed in performance. It also explores the central role of the theatre in British culture, highlighting the profound influence of Shakespeare, Hogarth, and Garrick on the European Enlightenment and the emergence of Romanticism. In this context, another trio of genius emerges prominently: Lichtenberg, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, and Denis Diderot. Familiar paintings and performances are re-examined in a new light, while unfamiliar pictures are introduced, including major paintings and drawings that have never been published before.

The final chapter of the book demonstrates the intricate inter-relationship between plays, painting, and performance. It reveals how these artistic mediums intersected and influenced each other, creating a rich tapestry of creativity and innovation. Simons' book offers a captivating journey through the realms of art, literature, and theatre, shedding light on the profound connections between these three influential figures and their lasting impact on the world of art.

Dimension: 290 x 245 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913645441