Garrick Between Tragedy and Comedy

Reynolds's ambitious painting of the celebrated actor David Garrick was one of the most important of his entire career. The subject was probably Garrick's own idea: a playful parody of the classical story of Hercules choosing between pleasure and virtue, designed to emphasise Garrick's versatility. Reynolds presents the figures of Comedy and Tragedy in the style of Antonio Correggio and Guido Reni. Correggio was known for his seductive use of colour, Reni for the strictures of line.