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Amelia Opie

2 of 8 portraits of Amelia Opie

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Amelia Opie

by Pierre-Jean David D'Angers, cast by Louis Richard
bronze medallion, 1829
5 1/4 in. (133 mm) diameter
Given by Sir Lionel Henry Cust, 1897
Primary Collection
NPG 1081

Sitterback to top

  • Amelia Opie (1769-1853), Novelist and poet; second wife of John Opie. Sitter in 8 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 1 portrait.

Artistsback to top

  • Pierre-Jean David D'Angers (1788-1856), Sculptor and medallist. Artist or producer associated with 8 portraits.
  • Louis Richard (1791-1879), Medallist. Artist or producer associated with 2 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Cast by the sculptor's founder, Louis Richard. Mrs Opie visited Paris in 1829, becoming a particular friend of David D'Angers. 'My next hero', she wrote home, 'is no General but a sculpteur libéral, the first man of his class here who before I saw him was desirous of making a medal of me for having made him cry his eyes out by my works. Malgré moi, he has made me en medaille, me and my petit bonnet which the artists here say looks like a Phrygian helmet, and has un air classique; but though young and flattered, the thing is like and David satisfied'.

Linked publicationsback to top

Events of 1829back to top

Current affairs

Metropolitan police force of over three thousand paid, uniformed, professional policemen founded by Home Secretary Sir Robert Peel.
Roman Catholic Relief Act grants emancipation; Catholics admitted to vote, sit in parliament and hold almost all public offices.

Art and science

Success of George Stephenson's Rocket steam engine at Rainhill Trials.
First London bus service licensed; the new 'box-on-wheels' contributes greatly to the expansion of the suburbs.
Apsley House completed for the Duke of Wellington by Benjamin Wyatt.
First Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

International

Andrew Jackson is elected President of the United States.

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