Charles James Mathews

A carte-de-visite portrait of the British actor Charles James Mathews (1803-1878), son of the actor Charles Mathews.

According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (11th edition): ‘As an actor, he held in England an unrivalled place in his peculiar vein of light eccentric comedy. The easy grace of his manner, and the imperturbable solemnity with which he perpetrated his absurdities, never failed to charm and amuse; his humour was never broad, but always measured and restrained.’

Photographed by John Mayall of London and Brighton.