Alexander Pope, Portrait Painter in Crayons and Miniature

(b. 1763, d. 1835)

Portrait Painter in Crayons and Miniature

From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913

Son of Thomas Pope (q.v.) and younger brother of Somerville Pope-Stevens (q.v.), was born in Cork in 1763. He studied in the Dublin Society's Schools, which he entered on 6th December, 1776, and was also a pupil of H. D. Hamilton (q.v.), from whom he acquired his skill in crayon portraiture. In 1777 and 1780 he sent drawings and small portraits in crayons to the Society of Artists in William Street. In 1781 he visited Cork, and receiving encouragement there, practised for a few years as a portrait painter in miniature and crayons, charging for the latter an Irish guinea, £1 2s. 9d. His portraits are said to have been flattering and he was more anxious to produce a pleasant picture than a faithful likeness. An excellent example of his art is his crayon portrait of "John Bowes, Lord Chancellor," in the Royal Dublin Society's House, Kildare Street. Taking part in some private theatricals in Cork his success was such as to eventually determine him to adopt the stage as a profession; and obtaining an engagement at Covent Garden he made his appearance there in the part of "Oroonoko" on the 8th January, 1785. In this and in a series of other parts which followed he made a favourable impression, and for years he played the principal tragic parts in the same theatre and at Drury Lane and the Haymarket. He also frequently appeared in Dublin. Though never in the first rank as a tragedian, Pope had a long and successful career, owing more to his good looks, his graceful action and melodious voice, than to his powers as an actor. During his stage career he continued to paint portraits.

The year of his arrival in London he contributed a portrait of "Mrs. Siddons" to the Royal Academy, and he was a frequent exhibitor down to 1821, sending miniature, crayon and occasionally oil portraits. Many of his portraits, including several of prominent members of the theatrical profession, were engraved. When Martin Archer Shee came to London to push his fortunes as an artist, Pope befriended him and often entertained him in his house; and when Shee rose to fame he painted two portraits of him which were exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1792 and 1797. Pope was a great gourmet, and many stories are told of his fastidiousness and epicurean taste. In one we are told of his irrepressible indignation on the unexpected appearance of a magnificent haunch of venison at a table where, in full reliance on his host's assurance of a "plain family dinner," he had already dined heartily on boiled beef. He died in his house in Store Street, Bedford Square, on 22nd March, 1835.

Two portraits of him, one as "Henry VIII," by Sharpe, and another as "Hamlet," by Gainsborough Dupont, are in the Garrick Club.

He was married three times; first, in August, 1785, in Dublin, to Elizabeth Young, an actress. She died in March, 1797, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. She left her house in Half Moon Street, Piccadilly, to her husband. He married, secondly, on 24th January, 1798, at Hanover Square, Maria Anne Campion (Mrs. Spencer), a young and pretty widow, an actress and a native of the county of Waterford. She died in Half Moon Street in 1803, aged 26, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Her portrait, painted by Shee and exhibited in the Royal Academy in 1803, now in the Garrick Club, was engraved in mezzotint by William Ward in 1804. Pope married thirdly, on 25th June, 1807, Clara Maria, daughter of Jared Leigh, an amateur painter, widow of Francis Wheatley, R.A., (q.v.). She was a clever artist, painting portraits and views, and also flower pieces in which she excelled, and was a frequent exhibitor in the Royal Academy; she also executed drawings for the "Botanical Magazine." She survived her second husband and died in Store Street on the 24th December, 1838. A portrait by her of "Madame Angelica Catalani" was engraved by A. Cardon in 1812.

Amongst portraits by Alexander Pope are:

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