Charles John Kean; Ellen Terry as Leontes and Mamillius in 'The Winter's Tale'

Sittersback to top

• Charles John Kean (1811-1868), Actor and theatre manager; second son of Edmund Kean. Sitter associated with 27 portraits.
• Dame (Alice) Ellen Terry (1847-1928), Actress. Sitter in 145 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Martin Laroche (William Henry Silvester) (1814-1886). Artist associated with 4 portraits.

This portraitback to top

This photograph represents Ellen Terry on the occasion of her stage debut, as Mamillius in a long-running production of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale at the Princess's Theatre, London. She is shown with Charles Kean, the leading actor-manager of the period, who played Leontes. Terry performed her role 102 times, and a review in The Times described her performance as 'vivacious and precocious'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Rogers, Malcolm, Camera Portraits, 1989 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 1989 - 21 January 1990), p. 35

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Carpets and textiles
• Children
• Hats and head-attire
• In Character
• Puppets, Dolls and Toys