Charles Kemble (1775- 1854) was an acclaimed actor who also managed the Covent Garden Theatre for a time. The Kemble family included other actors - Charles had as a brother John Philip Kemble, while Sarah Siddons was his sister.
John Opie met the Kembles through his second wife Amelia.
Provenance
Alfred Esdaile, London. The portrait hung in the stlylish Connaught Place home of the millionaire Esdaile, whose love and indeed ownership of London theatres made the actor Kemble seem very appropriate.
The potrait was then known as John Philip Kemble - it was subsequently recognised as Charles.
The National Portrait Gallery shows a portrait of Charles Kemble, painted by Henry Perrnoet Briggs, who was related to Opie's second wife Amelia.
The painting was sold after Esdale's death and is now in a private collection