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Albert and Victoria’s collection shows photographers’ working methods

Joseph Cundall (1819-95)

Mr Charles Kean (1811-68) as Leontes 1856

Wet collodion negative | 25.3 x 20.3 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2084929

10" x 8" glass plate negative showing actor Charles Kean as Leontes in The Winter's Tale, Act I, Scene II. He is standing on a patterned carpet, wearing an embroidered tunic with loose fabric wrapped around the lower part of the body and one of his arms.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. A hand-coloured print from this negative exists in the Collection (RCIN 2909967).

Kean wore this costume for his production of A Winter's Tale which he performed at the Princess's Theatre, Oxford Street, London. 

  • Creator(s)

    Joseph Cundall (1819-95) (photographer)

    Subject(s)
    Charles John Kean (1811-68)
  • 25.3 x 20.3 cm (whole object)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

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