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Carlo Pellegrini
Carlo Pellegrini

Carlo Pellegrini

Italian, 1839-1889
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Carlo Pellegrini, who did much of his work under the pseudonym of Ape, was an artist who served from 1869 to 1889 as a caricaturist for Vanity Fair magazine, a leading journal of London society. He was born in Capua, then in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. His father came from an ancient land-owning family, while his mother was allegedly descended from the Medici. His work for the magazine made his reputation and he became its most influential artist.

Pellegrini was educated at the Collegio dei Barnabiti, and then at Sant'Antonio in Maddaloni, near Naples. As a young man he caricatured Neapolitan society, modelling his portraits on those of Melchiorre Delfico and Daumier and other French and British artists of the period. Pellegrini claimed to have fought with Garibaldi; however, those who knew him well dismissed this as fantasy.

Deciding to leave Italy in 1864 after a series of personal crises, including the death of his sister, he travelled to England via Switzerland and France. He arrived in London in November 1864; he later claimed to have arrived destitute, and to have slept on the streets and in doorways. However, this claim may have been another fantasy designed to make him seem to be a Bohemian artist. In London he became a friend of the Prince of Wales.

It is not recorded how Pellegrini met Thomas Bowles, the owner of Vanity Fair magazine, but he quickly found himself employed by that publication and became its first caricaturist, originally signing his work as 'Singe' (French for "Monkey") and later, and more famously, as 'Ape' (a translation of "Singe" into English). Pellegrini's work for the magazine made his reputation and he became its most influential artist; it printed his caricatures for over twenty years, from January 1869 to April 1889. His 1869 caricature of Benjamin Disraeli was the first colour lithograph to appear in the magazine, and proved immensely popular. It was the first of a highly successful series of more than two thousand caricatures published by Vanity Fair. Although the later caricatures by Sir Leslie Ward are perhaps now more well known, those by 'Ape' are regarded by many collectors as being artistically and technically superior.

Apart from drawing his caricatures for the magazine, Pellegrini also attempted to set himself up as a portrait painter, but this venture met with limited success. Pellegrini met Degas in London in the 1870s, and in about 1876–77 painted his portrait, inscribed 'à vous/Pellegrini' (to you/Pellegrini). In return, Degas painted Pellegrini's portrait, similarly inscribed.

Pellegrini was a member of the Beefsteak Club in London and there met Whistler, who became a great influence on his work; indeed, he even attempted to paint portraits in the style of Whistler. Pellegrini was also a member of The Arts Club from 1874 until 1888.

Pellegrini was extremely careful about his appearance, and would wear immaculate white spats with highly polished boots. He grew long Mandarin-like fingernails, would never walk when he could ride, and had a limitless fund of amusing stories and eccentricities. He spoke broken-English, flaunted his homosexuality (at a time when it was dangerous to do so), and would often bring macaroni dishes to elegant dinner parties. He would refuse invitations to country houses out of fear of strange beds, and had a habit of keeping a cigar in his mouth as he slept.

He died of lung disease aged 49 at his home, 53 Mortimer Street, near Cavendish Square in London. He is buried in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London.

241 items

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Military and Navy; ‘Popular Members’, Captain Ralph Allen, March 21, 1874

Military and Navy; ‘Popular Members’, Captain Ralph Allen, March 21, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘Sailor, Politician and Sculptor’, Admiral the Right Hon. Lord Clarence Paget, December 25, 1875

Military and Navy; ‘Sailor, Politician and Sculptor’, Admiral the Right Hon. Lord Clarence Paget, December 25, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Adjutant General’, General Sir Charles Henry Ellice, October 20, 1877

Military and Navy; ‘The Adjutant General’, General Sir Charles Henry Ellice, October 20, 1877 (1877)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Auxillary Forces’, Viscount Bury, May 1, 1875

Military and Navy; ‘The Auxillary Forces’, Viscount Bury, May 1, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Ever Victorious Army’, Lt. Colonel Charles George Gordon, February 19, 1881

Military and Navy; ‘The Ever Victorious Army’, Lt. Colonel Charles George Gordon, February 19, 1881 (1881)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Father of the Rag’, Major A.G.F. Jocelyn, May 30, 1885

Military and Navy; ‘The Father of the Rag’, Major A.G.F. Jocelyn, May 30, 1885 (1885)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Man who won’t Stop’, Sir Garnet J. Wolseley, April 18, 1874

Military and Navy; ‘The Man who won’t Stop’, Sir Garnet J. Wolseley, April 18, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Price’, Colonel Owen Lewis Cope Williams, January 19, 1878

Military and Navy; ‘The Price’, Colonel Owen Lewis Cope Williams, January 19, 1878 (1878)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Retired List’, The Rt. Hon. Sir John Charles Dalrymple Hay, June 12, 1875

Military and Navy; ‘The Retired List’, The Rt. Hon. Sir John Charles Dalrymple Hay, June 12, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘The Rule of the Road at Sea’, Captain John Charles Ready Colomb, March 26, 1887

Military and Navy; ‘The Rule of the Road at Sea’, Captain John Charles Ready Colomb, March 26, 1887 (1887)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Military and Navy; ‘War’, The Right Hon. Frederick Arthur Stanley, May 24, 1879

Military and Navy; ‘War’, The Right Hon. Frederick Arthur Stanley, May 24, 1879 (1879)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Miscellaneous; ‘The Squire’, Mr. Henry Villebois, September 8, 1877

Miscellaneous; ‘The Squire’, Mr. Henry Villebois, September 8, 1877 (1877)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Musicians; ‘Cotillon’, Mr. Augustus Saville Lumley, January 3, 1874

Musicians; ‘Cotillon’, Mr. Augustus Saville Lumley, January 3, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Musicians; ‘First Violin’, H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh, January 10, 1874

Musicians; ‘First Violin’, H.R.H. Duke of Edinburgh, January 10, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Musicians; ‘Il Bacio’, Luigi Arditi, March 21, 1885

Musicians; ‘Il Bacio’, Luigi Arditi, March 21, 1885 (1885)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Musicians; ‘Praise and Prayer’, Ira D. Sankey, April 10, 1875

Musicians; ‘Praise and Prayer’, Ira D. Sankey, April 10, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Musicians; ‘Prayer and Praise’, Mr. D. L. Moody, April 3, 1875

Musicians; ‘Prayer and Praise’, Mr. D. L. Moody, April 3, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Musicians; ‘Sarasate’, Senor Palbo Martin Meliton Sarasate, May 25, 1889

Musicians; ‘Sarasate’, Senor Palbo Martin Meliton Sarasate, May 25, 1889 (1889)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘Active’, Lord Dunraven, May 4, 1878

Newspapermen; ‘Active’, Lord Dunraven, May 4, 1878 (1878)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘Common-sense in Politics’, S.C. Sullivan, June 13, 1885

Newspapermen; ‘Common-sense in Politics’, S.C. Sullivan, June 13, 1885 (1885)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘Journalism’, Mr. George Augustus Sala, September 25, 1875

Newspapermen; ‘Journalism’, Mr. George Augustus Sala, September 25, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘Our War Correspondence’, Mr. William Howard Russell, January 16, 1875

Newspapermen; ‘Our War Correspondence’, Mr. William Howard Russell, January 16, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘The Fortnightly Review’, John Morley, November 30, 1878

Newspapermen; ‘The Fortnightly Review’, John Morley, November 30, 1878 (1878)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘The Fortnightly Review’, T.H.S. Escott, May 2, 1885

Newspapermen; ‘The Fortnightly Review’, T.H.S. Escott, May 2, 1885 (1885)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘The Nonconformist’, Miall, July 29, 1871

Newspapermen; ‘The Nonconformist’, Miall, July 29, 1871 (1871)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘The Standard’, James Johnstone, February 14, 1874

Newspapermen; ‘The Standard’, James Johnstone, February 14, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Newspapermen; ‘The Times’, Opfer of Blowitz, August 29, 1885

Newspapermen; ‘The Times’, Opfer of Blowitz, August 29, 1885 (1885)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
One of the Lambs of the Political Fold – Mr. Apponyi. 14 Jan. 1871

One of the Lambs of the Political Fold – Mr. Apponyi. 14 Jan. 1871 (1871)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Oscar, Oscar Wilde

Oscar, Oscar Wilde

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Policemen; ‘Police’, Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Yeamans Walcott Henderson, March 6, 1875

Policemen; ‘Police’, Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund Yeamans Walcott Henderson, March 6, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
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