Robert Wilks (1665?-1732) as Captain Plume from George Farquhar's 'The Recruiting Officer' (1706)

after Philippe Mercier (Berlin 1689 – London 1760). Oil painting on copper, Robert Wilks (1665?-1732) as Captain Plume in 'The Recruiting Officer' by George Farquhar, after Philippe Mercier (Berlin 1689 – London 1760). Copied from a mezzotint engraving by John Faber (fl. 1695 - 1756), 1739 after Mercier from an incident depicted in Scene 1, Act 3, in the Recruiting Officer the 1706 play by George Farquhar (1677/8 - 1707). A group of 3 figures, Rose, a country wench, (possibly played by Catherine 'Kitty' Clive (1711 - 1785)) in the centre, with a basket of chickens and behind her Captain Plume, played by Robert Wilks (c. 1665 - 1732), the actor friend of the Irish playwright and manager of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, grasping the shoulder of her accomplice and brother, Bullock; in the background Sergeant Kite is seated at a table taking a glass of wine. Erddig, Wrexham (Accredited Museum)