ACTRESS 1885 Jean-Baptiste van Loo - Peg Woffington VICTORIAN PRINT

Original 1885 7 3/8 inch x 5 7/8 inch engraving titled THE ACTRESS.

The portrait is of Margaret Woffington (1720 – 1760), known professionally as Peg Woffington, who was an Irish actress and socialite of the Georgian era. Peg and Peggy were a common pet name for those called Margaret until the late 20th century. She was notorious for bitter rivalries with other actresses - even stabbing one during a performance - and for her love affair with Britain's leading actor, David Garrick.

Painted attributed to Jean-Baptiste van Loo (1684 - 1745). Jean-Baptiste van Loo was a French subject- and portrait-painter. Born at Aix-en-Provence, he was instructed in art by his father Louis-Abraham van Loo. He worked in a number of cities in France and Italy decorating churches and public buildings and painting church pictures. While in Turin he painted the portraits of Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy and several members of his court. In 1737, Van Loo went to England, where his portraits of Colley Cibber and Owen McSwiny attracted much attention. He painted portraits of Sir Robert Walpole and the prince and princess of Wales. However, he did not remain long in England; his failing health caused him to return to France in 1742.

Print size 8 3/4 inch x 12 inch

From ‘The Magazine of Art’ Vol. VIII. 1885. Published by Cassell & Company Ltd. - London, Paris, New York & Melbourne.

The engraving is in very good condition. Printed text above and below the image and on the reverse.