Alfred Edward ChalonRA (15 February 1780 – 3 October 1860) was a
Republic of Geneva-born British portraitist. He lived in
London where he was noticed by
Queen Victoria.
With his brother
John James Chalon (1778–1854), Alfred became an artist. Entered at the
Royal Academy in 1797, he joined the Associated Artists in Water-Colours, a group of
aquarellists. In the Academy, he was elected an associate (ARA) in 1812, then academician (RA) in 1816.
Known for his portraits of the good society of London, he was chosen by Queen Victoria to paint a gift to
her mother:[3] Victoria in her State robes going to the
House of Lords for her first official act, the
prorogation of the Parliament, on 17 July 1837. After this task, Chalon was entitled Portrait Painter in Water Colour to Her Majesty and gained some celebrity. His 1837 portrait was engraved by
Samuel Cousins and distributed to the public the day of Victoria's coronation, the 28 June 1838; and the next year Cousins produced a second, smaller, engraving.[3][4][5] Then, starting in 1851, the "
Chalon head" appeared on some British colonies'
postage stamps.
Bachelors, the Chalon brothers lived together. In 1860, Alfred died at
Campden Hill, in
Kensington, London and was buried with his brother in
Highgate Cemetery.