작품 상세

After William Hogarth (British, 1697-1764) Portrait of Margaret (Peggy) Woffington, the actress (1720-1760), in a black and yellow dress, holding a letter oil on canvas h:67 w: 55 cm Provenance: Christie's, sale, London, 6 March 1905. The Lord Luke, Odell Castle, Bedfordshire, and by descent. Actress Peg Woffington was born in Dublin and began her career as a street singer. At the age of 10 she made her stage debut in a Juvenile production of 'the Beggar's Opera'. She made her name in Ireland as Ophelia in a 1737 production of Hamlet and came to London in 1740. There she was an immediate success. One of her most celebrated roles was as Sir Harry Wilder, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She caused quite a stir in this part by wearing breeches. Beautiful and celebrated she met and fell in love with the actor David Garrick and they planned to marry. For whatever reason she left him in 1744.