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Prince Albert was an early adopter of portrait photography

Joseph Cundall (1819-95)

Mr Charles Kean (1811-68) as Leontes 1856

Hand coloured photograph | 21.8 x 16.5 cm (image) | RCIN 2909967

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Hand-coloured photograph of actor Charles Kean as Leontes in The Winter's Tale, Act I, Scene II. Kean wears a white and gold tunic with red fabric around the lower part of his body and left arm.

Charles Kean (1811-68) staged Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale at the Princess's Theatre in 1856 and was a performance attended by Queen Victoria. The Queen commissioned the photographer Joseph Cundall (1819-95) to photograph Kean in costume along with four other actors who performed in the play. This photograph was hand coloured by Mr Locke who worked as a colourist for the photographer Joseph Cundall.
  • Creator(s)

    Joseph Cundall (1819-95) (photographer)

    Locke (active 19th century) (colourist)

    Subject(s)
    Charles John Kean (1811-68)
  • 21.8 x 16.5 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
    Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Industries, Crafts and Trades
        • Toys and Decorations
          • Theatrical costumes