Attributed to Samuel John Stump, 1778 - 1863Portrait of the Actor Charles Kean 1811-1868, as Shylock from the Merchant of Venice by William Shakespereoil on panel23.5 x 20.5 cm. (9 .1/4 x 8.1/4 in.)Charles John Kean, (1811–1868), actor and theatre manager, born on 18 January 1811 in or near Waterford, Ireland, was the second and only son to survive childhood of the actor Edmund Kean (1787–1833) and his wife, Mary Chambers (1779–1849). On his father''s historic success at Drury Lane in 1814, his future seemed assured. He attended Mr Styles''s school at Worplesdon, Surrey, and the Revd Polehampton''s school at Greenford, near Harrow. In 1824 he entered Eton College as an oppidan, and rose to the fifth form in his first year. When his father''s fortunes plummeted in 1827, he had to leave the school.When Edmund Kean refused to settle £400 a year on his wife, from whom he was separated, Charles declined the cadetship in the East India Company which his father had arranged, whereupon Edmund angrily cut him off. With his name his only asset, Charles turned to the stage, where Stephen Price, the Drury Lane manager, offered him an engagement for three seasons, beginning at £10 weekly. Curiosity and publicity brought a packed house for the début of the youth, who was sixteen years old and totally inexperienced, on the opening of the season, on 1 October 1827. As Young Norval in John Home''s Douglas, he was mercilessly condemned by the critics and soon faded from attention, and acted for only twelve nights in seven months: Young Norval in Douglas six times, Achmet in Barbarossa three times, Frederick in Lovers'' Vows twice, and Lothair in Adelgitha once. In the provinces during the summer he gained experience and expanded his repertory. He first acted with his father, with whom he was reconciled, in Glasgow on the anniversary of his début and first tasted success in an Edinburgh engagement. After returning to Drury Lane in December 1828 he played Romeo twice, to contemptuous reviews. He first acted with Ellen Tree, whom he was eventually to marry, in Lovers'' Vows, on 26 December. In 1829 he returned to the provinces with meagre success (except in Edinburgh), and with his father played a few nights at Dublin and Cork. On 6 October 1829, as Reuben Glenroy in Town and Country, he began at the Haymarket at £20 for six nights, and the last two nights in The Iron Chest gained him mixed but generally favourable notices, his first in London. After a brief, mismanaged tour in the Netherlands he went to America in 1830, and played with some success in major cities. Back in London in January 1833 he was engaged at Covent Garden, where on 25 March he played Iago to his father''s Othello, with Ellen Tree as Desdemona. In Act III Edmund collapsed on stage into Charles''sarms; it was his final performance. On 25 February young Kean first played Hamlet in London and on 4 March acted his first original role, in Reputation, or, The State Secret. On 24 Ap...