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John Philip Kemble

(1757-1823), Actor

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter associated with 41 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.

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John Philip Kemble, by Gilbert Stuart - NPG 49

John Philip Kemble

by Gilbert Stuart
oil on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1785
NPG 49

John Philip Kemble, attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG 2616

John Philip Kemble

attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence
pencil, circa 1800
NPG 2616

John Philip Kemble, by Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG 6869

John Philip Kemble

by Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, 1812
NPG 6869

John Philip Kemble, by John Gibson - NPG 149

John Philip Kemble

by John Gibson
bronze bust, 1814
NPG 149

John Philip Kemble, possibly by James Gillray - NPG D12964

John Philip Kemble

possibly by James Gillray
hand-coloured etching, circa 1783
NPG D12964

John Philip Kemble, by Richard Newton - NPG D21610

John Philip Kemble

by Richard Newton
hand-coloured etching, published January 1798
NPG D21610

John Philip Kemble, by Henry Bone, after Sir William Beechey - NPG D17321

John Philip Kemble

by Henry Bone, after Sir William Beechey
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, 1798 (circa 1798)
NPG D17321

John Philip Kemble as Richard III, by John Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Gilbert Stuart - NPG D3465

John Philip Kemble as Richard III

by John Thornthwaite, published by John Bell, after Gilbert Stuart
line engraving, published 10 May 1798
NPG D3465

John Philip Kemble ('We serve a King whom we love - a God whom we adore'), by and published by Robert Dighton - NPG D10686

John Philip Kemble ('We serve a King whom we love - a God whom we adore')

by and published by Robert Dighton
hand-coloured etching, published June 1799
NPG D10686

John Philip Kemble, by James Heath, after George Chinnery - NPG D3464

John Philip Kemble

by James Heath, after George Chinnery
stipple engraving, published 1799
NPG D3464

John Philip Kemble as Rolla, by J.M.P., after Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D3514

John Philip Kemble as Rolla

by J.M.P., after Sir Thomas Lawrence
watercolour, (circa 1800)
NPG D3514

'Blowing up the Pic Nic's; - or - Harlequin Quixotte attacking the puppets', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12786

'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 D12786

John Philip Kemble as Hamlet, by William Barnard, published by H. Fuller, after George Hounsom - NPG D36812

John Philip Kemble as Hamlet

by William Barnard, published by H. Fuller, after George Hounsom
mezzotint, published 1 November 1803
NPG D36812

John Philip Kemble, by and published by William Sharp, after Sir Martin Archer Shee - NPG D19330

John Philip Kemble

by and published by William Sharp, after Sir Martin Archer Shee
line engraving, published 7 April 1803
NPG D19330

'Theatrical mendicants, relieved', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D12915

'Theatrical mendicants, relieved'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching and aquatint, published 15 January 1809
NPG D12915

John Philip Kemble, by William Daniell, after George Dance - NPG D12151

John Philip Kemble

by William Daniell, after George Dance
soft-ground etching, published 15 March 1810 (16 March 1795)
NPG D12151

John Philip Kemble, by William Say, after a painting attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D11306

John Philip Kemble

by William Say, after a painting attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence
mezzotint, published 1814 (1804)
NPG D11306

John Philip Kemble, by Silvester, after Unknown artist - NPG D3463

John Philip Kemble

by Silvester, after Unknown artist
line engraving, circa 1817
NPG D3463

John Philip Kemble as Richard III, possibly by Samuel De Wilde - NPG D3515

John Philip Kemble as Richard III

possibly by Samuel De Wilde
pen and watercolour, 1817
NPG D3515

John Philip Kemble as Cato, by John Rogers, published by Thomas Charles Wageman, after T & I Elvey - NPG D38633

John Philip Kemble as Cato

by John Rogers, published by Thomas Charles Wageman, after T & I Elvey
stipple and line engraving, published 1822
NPG D38633

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