Edmund Kean as Richard III
- Artist: Unknown artist
- Date: 1814
- Medium: etching
- Dimensions: Long Term Loan
- Portrays: Edmund Kean
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is a finely detailed etching of the actor Edmund Kean, captured in full costume as King Richard III. Notice how the lines delineate his fur-lined cloak and the crown’s jewels; the sharp contours give the figure a dramatic presence on the paper. The sitter’s profile is unmistakably Kean—his hair and the stage makeup echo his theatrical persona. This 1814 (or earlier) print was made by an unknown artist, showing the skill of early nineteenth‑century etching. It comes from the National Portrait Gallery, lent to us by John Murray. The piece gives a vivid glimpse into how actors were portrayed in costume portraits during that period, bridging performance and portraiture.
See it in person
Edmund Kean as Richard III is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
