Edmund Kean as Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice'
- 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
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is an etching from 1814 or earlier that captures Edmund Kean in full character as Shylock, the money‑lender from *The Merchant of Venice*. You can see Kean’s face set against a simple backdrop; his features are rendered with fine line work that gives depth to his eyes and the brim of his hat. Notice the detailed costume—rich folds in his cloak and the distinctive collar on his shirt—illustrating how stage costumes were translated into prints.
The image shows the actor in profile, his mouth slightly open as if he is about to speak. The etched lines around the edges create a subtle frame that keeps your focus on Kean’s expression.
Kean was a prominent English actor born in 1787; he toured with several companies and brought dramatic power to characters like Shylock. This print lets us glimpse that stage presence outside of the theater, making it both a portrait and a snapshot of early nineteenth‑century drama.
See it in person
Edmund Kean as Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice' 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.
