Mr Mathews at home

Harry Furniss, son of an English engineer, was born in Wexford, Ireland, and worked as an artist. He moved to England in 1876 and worked highly successfully for the Illustrated London News. He began contributing to Punch in 1880 and in 1884 he joined its staff, illustrating (for example) the 'Essence of Parliament' as well as supplying articles, jokes, illustrations and dramatic criticism. He left Punch in 1894 when it sold the copyright of one of his drawings to Pears Soap for advertising and started his own cartoon magazine, Like Joka. When it failed he moved to the USA and worked in the film industry with Thomas Edison. In 1914 Furniss helped pioneer the animated cartoon film.
Charles James Mathews ( 1803-78) was a famous actor, usually of comic parts who also owned several theatres.
Here Mathews is shown as his own man as well as the characters.