Alfred Edward Chalon (1780-1860)

Alfred Edward Chalon was a Swiss portrait artist. He lived with his brother John James Chalon in London who was also an artist. Chalon painted portraits of London's upper society figures and, following a commission to paint Queen Victoria in her state robes in 1837, he was made 'Portrait Painter in Water Colour to Her Majesty'. He was a member of the Royal Academy. 

"[He] sends a portrait of Clarkson to be forwarded to her"

This letter, dated November 1854 is written by Alfred Edward Chalon to Sampson Low to accompany a portrait of the abolitionist Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846) to be forwarded to Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Chalon painted a watercolour portrait of Thomas Clarkson in the early 1820s from which mezzotint engravings were produced afterwards. Harriet Beecher Stowe was a great admirer of Clarkson and during her lecture tour of Britain in 1853 she visited Clarkson's family home and grave in Playford, Suffolk.  

View Alfred Edward Chalon's letter [opens in a new window]

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