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Artwork

Mr. Foote in the Character of Major Sturgeon, in the Mayor of Garrat

Johann Gottfried Haid , 1765

Mr. Foote in the Character of Major Sturgeon, in the Mayor of Garrat is an ink print by the Baroque artist Johann Gottfried Haid. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower left in plate: Zoffanij Pinxit; lower center in plate: J. Boydell Excudit / MR. FOOTE in the Character of MAJOR STURGEON, / in the Mayor of Garrat. / Published according to Act of Parliament August 14th 1765. by JOHN BOYDELL, Engraver, in Cheapside, LONDON; lower right in plate: J.G. Haid fecit. …

About this work

Overview

Johann Gottfried Haid’s mezzotint, dated 1765, captures a moment from the 18th‑century comedy The Mayor of Garrat. The print portrays the actor Mr. Foote in costume as Major Sturgeon, alongside a second figure in an ornate coat. Rendered on laid paper, the image is framed by a dim interior, a wall of weaponry, and a fireplace topped with a shield.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents two men in a theatrical setting: Foote, dressed in an elaborate military uniform with wig, sword and numerous buttons, and a companion holding a cane and a tricorn hat under his arm. The surrounding armaments and the hearth suggest a militaristic backdrop, reinforcing the comic satire of a self‑appointed mayor in a mock‑military town.

Technique & Style

Executed in mezzotint, Haid employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated figures to emerge from a darkened space. The gradations of tone, achieved through careful scraping and burnishing of the copper plate, give the scene a three‑dimensional quality and emphasize the textures of fabric, metal and wood.

History & Provenance

The print was produced shortly after the play’s popular run, serving both as a souvenir and as a means of disseminating the performance’s visual humor. While specific ownership records are scarce, copies have appeared in 19th‑century auction catalogues, indicating a continued interest among collectors of theatrical ephemera.