Portrait of John Philip Kemble
| Portrait of John Philip Kemble | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | William Beechey |
| Year | 1799 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait |
| Dimensions | 77.0 cm × 64.1 cm (30.33 in × 25.23 in) |
| Location | Dulwich Picture Gallery, London |
Portrait of John Philip Kemble is a 1799 portrait painting by the British artist William Beechey depicting the stage actor John Philip Kemble.[1]
Kemble came from a celebrated family of actors and earned fame in London's West End, often appearing alongside his sister Sarah Siddons. He was at the height of his fame when he sat for William Beechey, a leading portraitist and prominent member of the Royal Academy. The painting was commissioned by the French art dealer Noël Desenfans.[2] Unlike most depictions of Kemble which show him in the character of one of the various roles he played, Beechey's portrait depicts the actor as himself. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy's 1799 Summer Exhibition at Somerset House.[3]
The painting is now in the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London having been part of the 1811 bequest by Francis Bourgeois. Kemble was a friend of the founders of the gallery and has reportedly suggested Dulwich to them as a location for the collection. [4]
See also
[edit]- John Philip Kemble as Cato, an 1812 portrait by Thomas Lawrence
References
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Bennett, Shelley, Leonard, Mark & West, Shearer. A Passion for Performance: Sarah Siddons and her Portraitists. Getty Publications, 1999.
- Ingamells, John. Dulwich Picture Gallery. Unicorn Press, 2008.
- Roberts, Sir William Beechey, R. A.. Duckworth and Company, 1907.
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