The Provoked Wife (1697) is the second original comedy written by John Vanbrugh. It made its first appearance in Lincoln's Inn Fields in May, 1697. The premise of the plot, of a wife trapped in an abusive marriage might consider either leaving it or taking a lover, outraged some sections of Restoration society. A later unfinished play by Vanbrugh was completed by Colley Cibber and staged under the title The Provoked Husband in 1728.
John Vanbrugh (1664–1726), author of The Relapse
The role of Sir John Brute in The Provoked Wife became one of David Garrick's most famous roles.
Sir John Vanbrugh was an English architect, dramatist and herald, perhaps best known as the designer of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. He wrote two argumentative and outspoken Restoration comedies, The Relapse (1696) and The Provoked Wife (1697), which have become enduring stage favourites but originally occasioned much controversy. He was knighted in 1714.
Godfrey Kneller's kit-cat portrait, held in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG3231)
Sketch of the infamous French state prison the Bastille in Paris, where Vanbrugh was incarcerated
The Queen's Theatre, by William Capon
Vanbrugh Castle in Greenwich, south London
