Richard 2^nd, Act 3, Scene 4; Mrs Kean as the Queen. Mr Meadows as the Gardener 

Photograph of actors recreating Act 3, Scene 4 in William Shakespeare's play Richard II. The scene depicts the Queen who wears a gown and a tiara and is played by Mrs Charles Kean (née Ellen Tree) with a gardener who is played by Drinkwater Meadows. On the left stand two other women, possibly the Queen's Attendants.

This photograph documents Charles Kean's production of Richard II, with Kean in the title role. The production was shown at Princess's Theatre, London, where Kean presented many adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. The plays were distinguished for their elaborate scenery and attention to detail that included historically authentic costumes and music. Queen Victoria saw Kean's production of Richard II five times (Royal Archives reference VIC/MAIN/Z/115). A hand coloured set of photographs of this production by the photographer Laroche were presented to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert for Christmas 1857.