Sir Thomas Lawrence

John Philip Kemble as Hamlet

1801

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Not on display
Artist
Sir Thomas Lawrence 1769–1830
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 3061 x 1981 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Presented by King William IV 1836
Reference
N00142

Display caption

Kemble was the leading tragic actor on the English stage. This painting, exhibited at the Academy in 1801, is the most famous of four huge canvases which Lawrence painted showing Kemble in various dramatic roles.

It shows the importance of size in as a means of dominating the Academy’s exhibitions. Portraits like this would be shown ‘above the line’, that is with their frames resting on a moulding eight foot (2.4 m) from the floor. This meant they could be seen above the heads of the crowds. The biggest paintings also usually claimed most attention in the press.

Gallery label, September 2004

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Left Right
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Mrs Siddons, ? as Mrs Haller in ‘The Stranger’’ c.1796–8

Sir Thomas Lawrence Mrs Siddons, ? as Mrs Haller in ‘The Stranger’

c.1796–8
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Philip Sansom’ c.1805–10

Sir Thomas Lawrence Philip Sansom

c.1805–10
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Mrs Siddons’ 1804

Sir Thomas Lawrence Mrs Siddons

1804
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Miss Laura Dorothea Ross (Mrs Francis Robertson)’ c.1798–1804

Sir Thomas Lawrence Miss Laura Dorothea Ross (Mrs Francis Robertson)

c.1798–1804
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Lady Georgiana Fane’ ?1806

Sir Thomas Lawrence Lady Georgiana Fane

?1806
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Princess Lieven’ ?1812–20

Sir Thomas Lawrence Princess Lieven

?1812–20
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Homer Reciting his Poems’ 1790

Sir Thomas Lawrence Homer Reciting his Poems

1790
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘The Countess of Darnley’ c.1825–30

Sir Thomas Lawrence The Countess of Darnley

c.1825–30
John Hoppner, ‘William Smith the Actor’ c.1788

John Hoppner William Smith the Actor

c.1788
Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Philadelphia Hannah, 1st Viscountess Cremorne’ exhibited 1789

Sir Thomas Lawrence Philadelphia Hannah, 1st Viscountess Cremorne

exhibited 1789
George Dawe, ‘Imogen Found in the Cave of Belarius’ exhibited 1809

George Dawe Imogen Found in the Cave of Belarius

exhibited 1809

Richard Westall Philip Sansom, Jun., as a Child

date not known
attributed to Richard Cosway, ‘A Lady (? Harriet Mellon) as a Sibyl’ c.1805

Attributed to Richard Cosway A Lady (? Harriet Mellon) as a Sibyl

c.1805
John Opie, ‘Portrait of a Lady in the Character of Cressida’ exhibited 1800

John Opie Portrait of a Lady in the Character of Cressida

exhibited 1800
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights
Henry Fuseli, ‘Lady Macbeth Seizing the Daggers’ ?exhibited 1812

Henry Fuseli Lady Macbeth Seizing the Daggers

?exhibited 1812
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art