John Philip Kemble as Cato
Sir Thomas Lawrence, 1812

This imposing seated full-length portrait depicts John Philip Kemble (1757-1823) at the height of his career in the leading role of Joseph's Addison's play Cato, when it was revived in 1811. The celebrity of this role was enhanced by people admiring Lawrence's painting and the several prints relating to it. Lawrence had a great love of theatre and this was the last and most successful of four experimental portraits of Kemble in which Lawrence pushed the limits of the genre by exploring the relationship between portraiture and history painting. Lawrence called these his 'half-history' pictures. The work fits in well with the gallery's collection as it both reveals the artist's portrait practice and sheds light on British history through this portrait of a great figure.
More information
Title of artwork, date
John Philip Kemble as Cato, 1812
Date supported
2009
Medium and material
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
254 x 177.8 cm
Grant
55000
Total cost
178500

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