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Carlo Pellegrini - Politicians – ‘Let arts and commerce, laws and learning die, but leave us still our old nobility.’ The Rt. Hon. Lord John J.R. Manners. 20 November 1869

Politicians – ‘Let arts and commerce, laws and learning die, but leave us still our old nobility.’ The Rt. Hon. Lord John J.R. Manners. 20 November 1869 (1869)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
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Why is this image in the public domain?
The Artist died in 1889 so this work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries where the copyright term is the Artist's life plus 70 years or fewer.
Carlo Pellegrini

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.

In Collection: Vanity Fair caricatures (View all 1077)

Doctors and Scientists. ‘Spectroscopic Astronomy’. Sir William Huggins. 9 April 1903

Doctors and Scientists. ‘Spectroscopic Astronomy’. Sir William Huggins. 9 April 1903 (1903)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
Politicians – ‘Diplomacy’. James Howard Harris, Earl of Malmesbury. 25 July 1874

Politicians – ‘Diplomacy’. James Howard Harris, Earl of Malmesbury. 25 July 1874 (1874)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Yachting Devotees; ‘Vigilant’, Mr. George Jay Gould, September 27, 1894

Yachting Devotees; ‘Vigilant’, Mr. George Jay Gould, September 27, 1894 (1894)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
Vanity Fair; Politicians; ‘Northumberland’, The Right Hon. Earl Percy, August 27, 1881

Vanity Fair; Politicians; ‘Northumberland’, The Right Hon. Earl Percy, August 27, 1881 (1881)

Théobald Chartran (French, 1849-1907)
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)
Bankers and Financiers. Mr. Samuel Hope Morley. 1 April 1905

Bankers and Financiers. Mr. Samuel Hope Morley. 1 April 1905 (1905)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
Politicians – ‘Hear! Hear! Hear! Hear!!!!’ Mr. Charles Nicholas Warton. 10 May 1884

Politicians – ‘Hear! Hear! Hear! Hear!!!!’ Mr. Charles Nicholas Warton. 10 May 1884 (1884)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Military and Navy; ‘The Constable of the Tower’, L.N. Gomm, August 30, 1873

Military and Navy; ‘The Constable of the Tower’, L.N. Gomm, August 30, 1873 (1873)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
Horse Trainers; ‘Petrarch’, Viscount Dupplin, September 23, 1876

Horse Trainers; ‘Petrarch’, Viscount Dupplin, September 23, 1876 (1876)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
Vanity Fair: Ladies; ‘H.I.M. the Empress of Austria’, Elizabeth Amalie Eugenie, April 5, 1884

Vanity Fair: Ladies; ‘H.I.M. the Empress of Austria’, Elizabeth Amalie Eugenie, April 5, 1884 (1884)

Constantine von de Grimm
Politicians – ‘Birmingham’. Mr. philip Henry Muntz. 7 August 1875

Politicians – ‘Birmingham’. Mr. philip Henry Muntz. 7 August 1875 (1875)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Politicians – ‘One of the best types of administrative ability in modern times.’ Lord Lawrence. 21 June 1871

Politicians – ‘One of the best types of administrative ability in modern times.’ Lord Lawrence. 21 June 1871 (1871)

Carlo Pellegrini (Italian, 1839-1889)
Politicians – ‘Clever’. Mr. William Bromley Davenport. May 12, 1877

Politicians – ‘Clever’. Mr. William Bromley Davenport. May 12, 1877 (1877)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
Politicians – Vanity Fair. ‘South Hants.’ Lord Henry John Montagu-Douglas-Scott. 24 September 1881

Politicians – Vanity Fair. ‘South Hants.’ Lord Henry John Montagu-Douglas-Scott. 24 September 1881 (1881)

Théobald Chartran (French, 1849-1907)
Turf Devotees; ‘Badminton’, The Duke of Beaufort, September 7, 1893

Turf Devotees; ‘Badminton’, The Duke of Beaufort, September 7, 1893 (1893)

Leslie Matthew Ward (English, 1851-1922)
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