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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D5459/1/34/1 |
| Former Reference | D5459/1/100 |
| Title | King Richard III : Mr Smith in the Character of Richard |
| Date | Feb 1787 |
| Description | Portrait of Smith, standing with his arms folded, looking slightly to the left. He has a black beard and moustache. He wears red slashed breeches and a red cape edged with ermine and an ermine ruff. He has a cocked hat with red, white and blue plumes and a sword strapped on.
On the verso is a pencil sketch of the head and torso of a woman. Available on CD 157. |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Artist | Woodward, George Murgatroyd (?1765-1809) |
| Archive Creator | George Murgatroyd Woodward (1765-1809), artist and writer |
| Further Information | G. M Woodward Delin : February 1787
"Richard / Clarence beware, - thou keepst me from the light"
William Smith (1730-1819) made his debut at Covent Garden in 1753, where he continued until his move to Drury Lane in 1775. Having married twice, both times to wealthy women, he could afford to limit himself to the standard season and never toured the provinces or played at the Haymarket. He played Richard III at Drury Lane on 23 Sep 1783, 3 Nov 1784 and 7 Nov 1785. |
| Physical Description | Coloured drawing. Size 256 x 202 mm. Portrait |
| Copies | A digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office. |
| Publication Note | B.D.A., London Stage. |
| Image | 
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