Art Funded by you

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

Content note: This object record is part of our archive and has not been updated since it was first published. It may contain inaccurate information or outdated language. Please get in touch if you think this record should be amended.

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