Alfred Edward Chalon RA Miss Eagles Caricature

Alfred Edward Chalon RA (1780–1860)

Alfred Edward Chalon RA (1780–1860) was born in Geneva but moved with his family to London at the time of the French Revolution. His father was hired as professor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and Alfred entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1797. His brother, John James Chalon (1778–1854), also became an artist.

Chalon established a reputation as a society portraitist in London, becoming an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1812 and a full academician in 1816. He came to the attention of Queen Victoria, who commissioned him to paint a gift to her mother in 1837: Victoria in her state robes going to the House of Lords for her first official act, the prorogation of the Parliament. He was the first artist to whom the queen sat after her accession and Chalon was subsequently appointed Portrait Painter in Watercolours to Queen Victoria. His portrait of the young queen was used on early issues of colonial stamps.

Bachelors, the Chalon brothers lived together. Alfred died at Campden Hill, in Kensington, London in 1860 and was buried with his brother in Highgate Cemetery.