Maria Dickons (née Poole)

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation Close

Maria Dickons (née Poole)

by Alfred Edward Chalon
ink, 1815
5 7/8 in. x 5 in. (150 mm x 127 mm)
Purchased, 1922
Primary Collection
NPG 1962(c)

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Alfred Edward Chalon (1780-1860), Portrait and subject painter. Artist or producer associated with 180 portraits, Sitter associated with 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This portrait of the opera and sacred music soprano Maria Dickons shows her in the role of 'the Contessa' in Mozart's Nozze di Figaro. Three years before Chalon made this portrait of her, Dickons had taken this role in the first performance in Britain of the opera; Angelica Catalani was 'Susannah'. This spirited pen-and-ink caricature depicts Dickons as she would appear from the footlights. Her mouth is open in song and her right hand is clutched to her bosom.

Linked publicationsback to top

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1815back to top

Current affairs

John and James Leigh Hunt are released from prison after a two year sentence for slandering the Prince of Wales in their outspoken, radical periodical the Examiner.
Corn Laws are introduced to protect against the collapse in prices which would inevitably follow peace with France, prompting riots in London.

Art and science

Humphry Davy invents the miners' safety lamp though its reception is clouded by William Clanny and George Stephenson who present rival models in the same year.
British Institution arranges first in innovative series of Old Master exhibitions
provoking virulent attack on its patrons for neglecting contemporary art.

International

Napoleon returns to France from exile in Elba and resumes power until his abdication on 22 June; a period known as the 'Hundred Days'.
Battle of Waterloo concludes the Anglo-French struggle that had lasted more than a century. Peace of Vienna establishes Britain's global political, economic and imperial dominance which lasts for the next hundred years.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.