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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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Shipping Officials; ‘Shipping’, Mr. Charles Mark Palmer, October 18, 1884

Shipping Officials; ‘Shipping’, Mr. Charles Mark Palmer, October 18, 1884 (1884)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Sports, Miscellaneous, Chess; ‘Chess’, Mr. J. H. Blackburne, June 2, 1888

Sports, Miscellaneous, Chess; ‘Chess’, Mr. J. H. Blackburne, June 2, 1888 (1888)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Sports, Miscellaneous; Carriages; ‘A Peninsular Veteran’, The Marquis of Tweeddale, January 8, 1876

Sports, Miscellaneous; Carriages; ‘A Peninsular Veteran’, The Marquis of Tweeddale, January 8, 1876 (1876)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Sports, Miscellaneous; Carriages; ‘Charlie’, Lord Carrington, February 7, 1874

Sports, Miscellaneous; Carriages; ‘Charlie’, Lord Carrington, February 7, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Sports, Miscellaneous; Carriages; ‘Coaching’, Sir Henry Meysey Meysey-Thompson, June 4, 1887

Sports, Miscellaneous; Carriages; ‘Coaching’, Sir Henry Meysey Meysey-Thompson, June 4, 1887 (1887)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Sports, Miscellaneous; Chess; ‘Chess’, Mr. J. H. Blackburne, June 2, 1888

Sports, Miscellaneous; Chess; ‘Chess’, Mr. J. H. Blackburne, June 2, 1888 (1888)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Sports, Miscellaneous; Miscellaneous; ‘A Real English Gentleman’, The Marquis of Exeter, April 9, 1881

Sports, Miscellaneous; Miscellaneous; ‘A Real English Gentleman’, The Marquis of Exeter, April 9, 1881 (1881)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Teachers and Headmasters; ‘Christ Church’, The Very Reverand Henry George Liddell, January 30, 1875

Teachers and Headmasters; ‘Christ Church’, The Very Reverand Henry George Liddell, January 30, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Teachers and Headmasters; ‘The Science of Language’, Frederick Maximilian, February 6, 1875

Teachers and Headmasters; ‘The Science of Language’, Frederick Maximilian, February 6, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
The ablest Professor in the Cabinet of the Tact by which Power is Kept….

The ablest Professor in the Cabinet of the Tact by which Power is Kept…. (1869)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
The Baron – Sir Charles Lennox Wyke. 9 Feb. 1884

The Baron – Sir Charles Lennox Wyke. 9 Feb. 1884 (1884)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
The Diogenes of the Modern Corinthians without his Tub, Thomas Carlyle

The Diogenes of the Modern Corinthians without his Tub, Thomas Carlyle

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
The Poet Laureate, Lord A. Tennyson

The Poet Laureate, Lord A. Tennyson

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Theatre; ‘Our Only Comedian’, Mr. Charles James Mathews, October 2, 1875

Theatre; ‘Our Only Comedian’, Mr. Charles James Mathews, October 2, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Theatre; ‘The Bells’, Mr. Henry Irving, December 19, 1874

Theatre; ‘The Bells’, Mr. Henry Irving, December 19, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Theatre; ‘The Poet’s Son’, Sir Percy Florence Shelley, December 13, 1879

Theatre; ‘The Poet’s Son’, Sir Percy Florence Shelley, December 13, 1879 (1879)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘A Turf Reformer’, Mr. Henry Chaplin, December 5, 1874

Turf Devotees; ‘A Turf Reformer’, Mr. Henry Chaplin, December 5, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘Bridgewater House’, The Earl of Ellesmere, January 22, 1887

Turf Devotees; ‘Bridgewater House’, The Earl of Ellesmere, January 22, 1887 (1887)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘Charlie’, Lord Suffield, May 3, 1879

Turf Devotees; ‘Charlie’, Lord Suffield, May 3, 1879 (1879)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘Covey’, The Earl of Conventry, August 13, 1881

Turf Devotees; ‘Covey’, The Earl of Conventry, August 13, 1881 (1881)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘Earlie’, The Earl of Clonmell, August 6, 1881

Turf Devotees; ‘Earlie’, The Earl of Clonmell, August 6, 1881 (1881)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘G. P.’, Mr. George Payne, September 18, 1875

Turf Devotees; ‘G. P.’, Mr. George Payne, September 18, 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘Master of the Horse’, The Earl of Bradford, October 24, 1874

Turf Devotees; ‘Master of the Horse’, The Earl of Bradford, October 24, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Turf Devotees; ‘The Head of the Pagets’, The Marquis of Anglesey, September 18, 1880

Turf Devotees; ‘The Head of the Pagets’, The Marquis of Anglesey, September 18, 1880 (1880)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Yachting Devotees; ‘Round the World’, Mr. Thomas Brassey, October 6, 1877

Yachting Devotees; ‘Round the World’, Mr. Thomas Brassey, October 6, 1877 (1877)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Yachting Devotees; ‘Yachting’, Count Edmund Batthyany, September 19, 1874

Yachting Devotees; ‘Yachting’, Count Edmund Batthyany, September 19, 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Illustration
Adelboden Switzerland

Adelboden Switzerland (1905)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Posters
Berner-Oberland; Adelboden 1400m, Schweiz, Suisse

Berner-Oberland; Adelboden 1400m, Schweiz, Suisse (1910)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Posters
Caricature of James McNeil Whistler

Caricature of James McNeil Whistler (1883)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Drawings
Portrait of Whistler

Portrait of Whistler (1877)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Drawings
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