The classic clown makeup- white face, huge red lips, lined eyebrows- predates the rise of minstrel shows in the 1830's. It originated with Joseph Grimaldi ( 1778-1837). There are various explanations ( one is that it imitated the face of a greedy child who's been gorging himself on jam tarts) but the contrasting colors meant that Grimaldi's facial expressions could be seen quite well in the theater lighting of the time, which was much dimmer than today ( the bright limelights of the Victorian theater were invented the year of his death).

Grimaldi was immensely popular. He really originated the character of the clown that would be a stock character in English pantomimes ( or "Pantos") , and whiteface clowns are still called "Joeys". But in an age before mass media, the only way he could make money on that popularity was to perform, over and over. Sometimes he would do two shows a night, in two different theaters. Those performances were hard work, required him to throw himself around quite a lot. He also had significant expenses- a country house, a wife who liked nice things, a private school for his son. Bankruptcy was constantly a threat. Not surprisingly, by the 1820's he was in very bad shape, self medicating with alcohol, and unable to work.

The costumes and makeup of minstrel shows of the 1800's and later were likely affected by Grimaldi 's character of the clown.. Dan "Daddy" Rice not only performed as a circus clown but worked in blackface, and it's hard to miss the similarities: clowns and blackface minstrels were both supposed to be, essentially, gleeful uninhibited children. In the case of the minstrel shows, of course, portraying African Americans as happy children served the useful purpose of making acceptable their domination by white people.

John H Towsen : Clowns