David Garrick as Don John in his adaptation of 'The Chances' by Beaumont and Fletcher, Act 1, Scene 2, with a view intended to be Naples in the background
1774
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1774
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
David Garrick as Don John in his adaptation of 'The Chances' by Beaumont and Fletcher, Act 1, Scene 2, with a view intended to be Naples in the background is a 1774 watercolor by Philip James de Loutherbourg, a Rococo painting work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
A man in fancy old clothes stands on a stone porch, holding a scroll and a hat. He’s mid-step, like he’s about to walk off the stage. Behind him, a crumbling building and a distant city by the water look like a stage set—flat and slightly faded. The artist used soft light and shadow to make the scene feel dramatic, almost like a play. The background looks like Naples, but it’s clearly painted, not real. Check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark to create mood.
A watercolour drawing on Whatman paper depicts David Garrick in the role of Don John from his adaptation of Beaumont and Fletcher’s *The Chances*, Act 1, Scene 2, with a background intended to represent Naples. Signed by the artist, the work served as a study for a painting exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1774.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Philip James de Loutherbourg painted dramatic stage scenes and sweeping landscapes in 18th-century England.
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