John Laguerre

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John Laguerre (* 1688 in London ; † 1748 ) was a French history painter , engraver and singer . At the theater he used the stage names John Lagarde, John Legar, John Legard, John Le Garde, John Legare, John Leguar .

Life

John Laguerre, called Jack, was born in London. His father was Louis Laguerre (1663-1721); from him he learned painting and the craft of copperplate engraving . He also worked under William Hogarth . Although he could have made a living from his work relatively soon, he was drawn to the theater, where he wanted to become a singer. His singing career began in London in 1720 with a supporting role in George Frideric Handel's Radamisto . He was then committed to Covent Garden , where he appeared in various pantomimes , afterpieces , burlesques and song operas from 1721 to 1740 . In 1721, during a performance at the Drury Lane Theater , his father died in the auditorium. In 1724 Laguerre sang the curio in Handel's Giulio Cesare . His most successful roles have been Hob in Flora (an English opera subtitled Hob in the Well ) and Gaffer Gubbins in The Dragon of Wantley .

Laguerre also painted various scenes from Flora . He also painted theater scenes and portrayed literary characters from Falstaff to Doll Tearsheet .

In 1724 he married the dancer and actress Mary Rogeir, with whom he always worked, and after whose death in 1739 his career was over. In 1741 he was imprisoned for debt, but was allowed to sing for his own benefit in a charity performance. In 1746 the producer John Rich (1692–1761) took him under contract as a set designer .

Laguerre died in 1748 impoverished and under unexplained circumstances.

  • Painting by John Laguerre with scenes from the opera "Flora"

  • Hob sells beer

  • Hob defiantly continues to dance in front of his father

  • Hob is kicked out

  • Raised in a duel

literature

  • Horace Walpole: A catalog of engravers: who have been born or resided in England. J. Dodsley, 1782. p. 241.
  • The Theater of the London Fairs in the 18th Century. Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1960. p. 41
personal data
SURNAME Laguerre, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lagarde, John (pseudonym); Legar, John (pseudonym); Legard, John (pseudonym); Le Garde, John (pseudonym); Legare, John (pseudonym); Leguar, John (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION English history painter, engraver and singer
DATE OF BIRTH 1688
PLACE OF BIRTH London
DATE OF DEATH 1748