Charles John Kean
(1811-1868), Actor and theatre manager; second son of Edmund KeanEarly Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 28 portraits
Determined to become an actor, he made his first appearance at Drury Lane in 1827 as Norval in Home's Douglas, but his failure to achieve popularity led him to leave London the following year for the provinces. His next London appearance was in 1833 as 'Sir Edmund Mortimer' in Colman's The Iron Chest, but his success was still not pronounced enough for him to remain in the capital. In 1838, he returned to Drury Lane, and played Hamlet with a success which placed him among the principal tragedians of his time. In 1850 he became joint lessee of the Princess Theatre. The most noteworthy feature of his management was a series of highly regarded Shakespearean revivals.
by Samuel John Stump
oil on canvas, circa 1830
NPG 1249
by Jemima Blackburn (née Wedderburn)
watercolour, 1833-1857
NPG 2772(33a)
by Jemima Blackburn (née Wedderburn)
watercolour, 1833-1857
NPG 2772(33b)
by Rose Myra Drummond
chalk, circa 1838
NPG 2524
by E. Goodwyn Lewis
chalk, 1850-1875
NPG 1307
Charles John Kean; Ellen Terry as Leontes and Mamillius in 'The Winter's Tale'
by Martin Laroche (William Henry Silvester)
salt print, 26 April 1856
NPG x7954
after John Jabez Edwin Mayall
albumen carte-de-visite, circa late 1850s
NPG x12602
by Maull & Co
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax17871
by Martin Laroche (William Henry Silvester)
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG x12603
by Camille Silvy
albumen carte-de-visite, early-mid 1860s
NPG x132400
by Southwell Brothers
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax25041
by Horatio Nelson King
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG Ax25045
by Southwell Brothers
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x12601
by Horatio Nelson King
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG Ax39835
'Upwards of five hundred photographic portraits of the most celebrated personages of the age'
by Frederick Holland Mares, after Disdéri, and Camille Silvy, and Duroni & Murer, and Émile Desmaisons, and John Jabez Edwin Mayall, and Herbert Watkins, and William Edward Kilburn, and Horatio Nelson King, and John & Charles Watkins, and James Mudd, and Unknown photographers, published by Ashford Brothers & Co
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x139661
by Maull & Polyblank
albumen print
NPG Ax27699
by Unknown artist
lithograph, mid 19th century
NPG D36754
by Richard James Lane, published by John Mitchell, after C.S.L.
lithograph, mid 19th century
NPG D17076
Charles John Kean as Sir Giles Overreach in Philip Massinger's 'New Way to Pay Old Debts'
by William Drummond
lithograph, published 1838
NPG D36756
Charles John Kean as Gloucester in 'Richard III'
published by John Tallis & Company, after Reid
stipple and line engraving, circa 1839-1846
NPG D3450
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