Charles Mathews
(1776-1835), ComedianSitter associated with 22 portraits
Artist associated with 1 portrait
The comic actor Charles Mathews's distinctive appearance, lop-sided mouth and remarkable gift for mimicry ensured huge contemporary popularity. In a double-act with fellow comedian John Liston, Mathews played the quick-thinking wit to Liston's gullible fool. During the summer months he toured the provinces and began to develop the idea of a one-man show. This eventually became the famous Mr Mathews at Home which combined mimicry, story-telling, quick-change artistry, comic songs and improvisation. It was equally popular in England and the USA where he toured in 1822-3 and 1834.
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