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Alfred Edward ChalonSwiss portrait artist
Date of Birth: 15.02.1780
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Alfred Edward Chalon
Early Life and CareerAlfred Edward Chalon was a Swiss portrait artist who lived in London and gained recognition from Queen Victoria. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and his father was soon invited to teach at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, England. Alongside his brother John James Chalon, Alfred pursued a career in art. He was accepted into the Royal Academy of Arts in 1797 and became a member of the group of watercolorists known as the Associated Artists in Water-Colours. He was elected as a Corresponding Member of the Royal Academy in 1812 and as an Academician in 1816.
The Portrait of Queen Victoria
Chalon became famous for his portraits of members of London's high society, and Queen Victoria chose him to paint her portrait as a gift to her mother, Victoria, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. The artist depicted Victoria in her ceremonial attire as she headed to the House of Lords for her first official public appearance, announcing a parliamentary recess on July 17, 1837. After completing this painting, Chalon was appointed as the Court Painter in the genre of watercolor portraiture and gained some level of fame. The portrait he created in 1837 was engraved by Samuel Cousins and distributed to the public on the day of Victoria's coronation, June 28, 1838.
Later Life and Legacy
Being bachelors, the Chalon brothers lived together. Alfred passed away in 1860 in Campden Hill, Kensington. He was buried at Highgate Cemetery in London. Starting from 1851, the "Chalon Head," based on his portrait of Queen Victoria, was featured on a series of postage stamps in various British colonies.
