Claudine de Begnis (née Ronzi)

Sitterback to top

• Claudine de Begnis (née Ronzi) (1800-1853), Actress and singer. Sitter in 2 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Alfred Edward Chalon (1780-1860), Portrait and subject painter. Artist associated with 182 portraits, Sitter associated with 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

The operatic soprano Giuseppina Ronzi (known as 'Claudine') was born in Milan and married the Italian bass Guiseppe de Begnis in 1816. The couple met in Bologna where they were both performing in Paer's opera Agnese. They came to London in 1821 and made their debut in Rossini's Turco in Italia at the Italian Opera at the King's Theatre. The artist Alfred Chalon was also from the continent. He moved with his family from Switzerland to England in 1789 and enrolled in the Royal Academy Schools in 1797. An accomplished watercolourist, he had a great interest in the theatre, opera and ballet. In this portrait he has depicted Claudine in oriental costume as Fatima in Rossini's opera Pietro L'Eremita of 1823.

Related worksback to top

• NPG D35029: Claudine de Begnis (née Ronzi) (source portrait)

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ormond, Richard, Early Victorian Portraits, 1973, p. 133
• Rogers, Malcolm, Master Drawings from the National Portrait Gallery, 1993 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 August to 23 October 1994), p. 99
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 170

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Alfred Chalon at the Opera (25 May 2010 - 13 February 2011)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Around the world
• Costumes and national dress
• Hats and head-attire
• In Character
• Jewellery