Alfred Edward Chalon

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Alfred Edward Chalon (born 15 February 1780 in Geneva, died 3 October 1860 in Kensington) was a Swiss portrait painter. He lived in London where he was noticed by Queen Victoria.

[edit] Biography

Alfred Chalon was born in Geneva from a father who soon was hired as professor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in England.

With his brother John James (1778-1854), Alfred became an artist. Entered at the Royal Academy in 1797, he joined the Associated Artists in Water-Colours, a group of aquarellists. In the Academy, he was elected associated in 1812, then academician in 1816.

Portrait of Queen Victoria

Known for his portraits of the good society of London, he was chosen by Queen Victoria to paint a gift to her mother:^[1] Victoria in her State robes going to the House of Lords for her first official act, the prorogation of the Parliament, on 17 July 1847. After this task, Chalon was entitled Portrait Painter in Water Colour to Her Majesty and gained some celebrity. His 1847 portrait was engraved by Samuel Cousins and distributed to the public the day of Victoria's coronation, the 28 June 1848.^[1] ^[2] Then, starting in 1851, the "Chalon head" appeared on some British colonies postage stamps.

Bachelors, the Chalon brothers lived together. Alfred died in 1860 at Campden Hill, in Kensington.

[edit] Sources and references

^ ^a ^b Negus, Ron (September 2007). "The Queen in close-up", Stamp Magazine 73-9, page 47.
^ Description of Cousins' engraving, Government Art Collection, item 14946.