John Philip Kemble
(1757-1823), ActorRegency Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter associated with 46 portraits
Actor, theatre manager and playwright, John Philip Kemble was the oldest son of Roger Kemble, who managed a touring theatre company. He followed his sister Sarah Siddons to Drury Lane, where he first appeared as Hamlet in 1783. He played a wide range of characters and excelled in Shakespearian tragedy, often appearing opposite Siddons. Between 1788 and 1796 he was also actor-manager at Drury Lane under Richard Brinsley Sheridan until he and Siddons defected to Covent Garden Theatre where he became manager and part-owner. He wrote a number of plays and had a deep knowledge of drama and stagecraft. He retired in 1817 after playing the title role in Coriolanus.
John Philip Kemble as Coriolanus
by William Oakley Burgess, published by Marseille Middleton Holloway, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 11 March 1839
NPG D17077
by Charles William Sherborn, after Sir Martin Archer Shee
etching, 1886
NPG D21185
John Philip Kemble as Richard III
by Francesco Bartolozzi, published by Darling & Thompson, and Thomas Simpson, after William Hamilton
stipple, published 1 July 1794
NPG D49852
'Blowing up the Pic Nic's; - or - Harlequin Quixotte attacking the puppets'
by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 2 April 1802
NPG D13699
John Philip Kemble as Coriolanus
by Robert Mitchell Meadows, published by Thomas Palser, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
stipple, published 1 March 1805
NPG D49853
by Samuel William Reynolds, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, based on a work of 1812
NPG D49851
Related People
- Cecilia Combe (née Siddons) (niece)
- Adelaide Kemble (Mrs Sartoris) (niece)
- Charles Kemble (brother)
- Frances ('Fanny') Kemble (sister)
- Frances Anne ('Fanny') Kemble (niece)
- Henry Vincent James Kemble (nephew)
- Priscilla Kemble (née Hopkins) (wife)
- Roger Kemble (father)
- Stephen Kemble (brother)
- George John Siddons (nephew)
- Henry Siddons (nephew)
- Maria Siddons (niece)
- Sarah Martha ('Sally') Siddons (niece)
- Sarah Siddons (née Kemble) (sister)
- Elizabeth Whitlock (née Kemble) (sister)
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