Charles Mathews

Inscriptionback to top

Incised in cursive script: Published by Sam^l Joseph 1^st March … (obscured).

This portraitback to top

The bust is accompanied by letters from the donor, Captain C. E. Pym of Brasted, Kent, in which he gives its provenance. On the pedestal was a paper written by Mrs Mathews: 'Charles Mathews, comedian, by Joseph in 1822, and presented by him to Mrs Mathews. Unique, the second cast having been destroyed in Covent Garden Theatre when burnt' (letters July and October 1913 in NPG archive). A letter from Joseph about the bust is printed in the Memoirs, III, pp 281-2, Mrs Mathews as editor adding 'it will gratify Mr Joseph to know that this excellent bust is still among the most prized of my possessions'.

Provenanceback to top

Given by the sculptor to Mrs Anne Mathews, then her son Charles James Mathews and his sale 1878; H. N. Pym and given by his son C. E. Pym 1913.

Exhibitionsback to top

The Covent Garden version (destroyed 1856) exhibited RA 1822 (1013).


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

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