John James Masquerier
Encyclopedia
John James Masquerier was a British painter with French Hugenot parents. His work was mainly portrait painting, including of notables such as Lady Hamilton.
in October 1778, the son of French parents, his mother's name being Barbot, and on both sides descended from French refugee Protestant families. Masquerier studied at the Royal Academy
and painted a portrait of himself as a boy (later in the collection of Baroness Burdett Coutts), which was shown to George III, and gained for him a travelling allowance from the Royal Academy, which enabled him to go to Paris to study.
About 1789 he settled with his mother in the Champs-Elysées
, while he studied painting under François Vincent at the Tuileries. He was painting in this school at the time of the murder of the Swiss Guards on 10 August 1792, but escaped with his life. Masquerier made sketches from personal observation of many events of the French Revolution
, such as the murder of the Princesse de Lamballe and the trial of the king, and was acquainted with some of leading figures. In 1793, when the arrest was imminent of all English residents in France, he and his mother tried to leave Paris. His mother was, however, arrested and imprisoned with Helen Maria Williams
and others. She owed her life and liberty to the fall of Robespierre and the events of the 10 Thermidor.
Masquerier returned to London, and subsequently entered the studio of John Hoffner, R.A., many of whose pictures he completed. In 1793 he visited the Isle of Wight, where he was the guest of John Wilkes
. In 1795 he began his professional career as an artist, and in 1796 exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy, sending a portrait and ‘The Incredulity of St. Thomas;’ the latter formed the altar-piece of the chapel (once the hall of the house of Lord-chief-justice George Jeffreys
) in Duke Street, Westminster. In 1800 Masquerier revisited Paris, and claimed, through the interest of Madame Tallien, whose portrait he painted, to have made a drawing of Napoleon Bonaparte as first consul. He certainly brought to England sketches and notes, and with the help of Charles Turner
and Henry Bernard Chalon very hurriedly painted in his London studio a picture of ‘Napoleon reviewing the Consular Guards in the Court of the Tuileries,’ which he exhibited in Piccadilly in 1801. This picture attracted large crowds on the assumption that it was the first authentic likeness of Napoleon exhibited in England. ‘Peter Porcupine’ (William Cobbett
) accused him of being an alien spy and emissary of Napoleon: Masquerier produced the register of his birth at Chelsea.
Masquerier continued to paint and exhibit portraits, which reached in twenty-eight years a total of over four hundred. He also occasionally sent to the Royal Academy a subject picture, such as ‘The Fortune Teller’ (1800), ‘Petrarch and Laura’ (1803), ‘January and May’ (1808). In 1814 he fetched his mother from Paris, and provided for her maintenance in England. It was probably on this journey that he painted a portrait of Emma, Lady Hamilton. In the following year he visited the field of Waterloo and made a painting of ‘La Belle Alliance’. He also drew a portrait of Napoleon's guide, J. B. Coster.
In 1823 he retired from his profession, having amassed a comfortable fortune, and settled at Brighton
, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He revisited Paris in 1850, and in 1851 made a tour in Germany with Henry Crabb Robinson
. Masquerier still painted occasionally after his retirement; in 1831 he exhibited ‘A Marriage in the Church of St. Germain l'Auxerrois, Paris,’ and in 1838 ‘Buonaparte and Marie Louise viewing the Tomb of Charles the Bold at Bruges.’ He died at Brighton on 13 March 1855. His remaining pictures, sketch-books, &c., became the property of a relative, D. E. Forbes, and were sold by auction at Christie's on 19 January 1878. A number of his sketch-books were in the possession of his friend, Baroness Burdett Coutts.
(engraved by S. Freeman for Cadell's ‘Portraits’), besides many of his personal friends and relations. Masquerier painted his own portrait more than once.
Life
He was born at Chelsea, LondonChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
in October 1778, the son of French parents, his mother's name being Barbot, and on both sides descended from French refugee Protestant families. Masquerier studied at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and painted a portrait of himself as a boy (later in the collection of Baroness Burdett Coutts), which was shown to George III, and gained for him a travelling allowance from the Royal Academy, which enabled him to go to Paris to study.
About 1789 he settled with his mother in the Champs-Elysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
, while he studied painting under François Vincent at the Tuileries. He was painting in this school at the time of the murder of the Swiss Guards on 10 August 1792, but escaped with his life. Masquerier made sketches from personal observation of many events of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, such as the murder of the Princesse de Lamballe and the trial of the king, and was acquainted with some of leading figures. In 1793, when the arrest was imminent of all English residents in France, he and his mother tried to leave Paris. His mother was, however, arrested and imprisoned with Helen Maria Williams
Helen Maria Williams
Helen Maria Williams was a British novelist, poet, and translator of French-language works. A religious dissenter, she was a supporter of abolitionism and of the ideals of the French Revolution; she was imprisoned in Paris during the Reign of Terror, but nonetheless spent much of the rest of her...
and others. She owed her life and liberty to the fall of Robespierre and the events of the 10 Thermidor.
Masquerier returned to London, and subsequently entered the studio of John Hoffner, R.A., many of whose pictures he completed. In 1793 he visited the Isle of Wight, where he was the guest of John Wilkes
John Wilkes
John Wilkes was an English radical, journalist and politician.He was first elected Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters—rather than the House of Commons—to determine their representatives...
. In 1795 he began his professional career as an artist, and in 1796 exhibited for the first time at the Royal Academy, sending a portrait and ‘The Incredulity of St. Thomas;’ the latter formed the altar-piece of the chapel (once the hall of the house of Lord-chief-justice George Jeffreys
George Jeffreys
George Jeffreys may refer to:* George Jeffreys composer and organist to Charles I* George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys , British politician & jurist...
) in Duke Street, Westminster. In 1800 Masquerier revisited Paris, and claimed, through the interest of Madame Tallien, whose portrait he painted, to have made a drawing of Napoleon Bonaparte as first consul. He certainly brought to England sketches and notes, and with the help of Charles Turner
Charles Turner
-Australia:*Charles Turner , Australian cricketer*Charles Turner , Australian water polo player in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics.-Canada:...
and Henry Bernard Chalon very hurriedly painted in his London studio a picture of ‘Napoleon reviewing the Consular Guards in the Court of the Tuileries,’ which he exhibited in Piccadilly in 1801. This picture attracted large crowds on the assumption that it was the first authentic likeness of Napoleon exhibited in England. ‘Peter Porcupine’ (William Cobbett
William Cobbett
William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist, who was born in Farnham, Surrey. He believed that reforming Parliament and abolishing the rotten boroughs would help to end the poverty of farm labourers, and he attacked the borough-mongers, sinecurists and "tax-eaters" relentlessly...
) accused him of being an alien spy and emissary of Napoleon: Masquerier produced the register of his birth at Chelsea.
Masquerier continued to paint and exhibit portraits, which reached in twenty-eight years a total of over four hundred. He also occasionally sent to the Royal Academy a subject picture, such as ‘The Fortune Teller’ (1800), ‘Petrarch and Laura’ (1803), ‘January and May’ (1808). In 1814 he fetched his mother from Paris, and provided for her maintenance in England. It was probably on this journey that he painted a portrait of Emma, Lady Hamilton. In the following year he visited the field of Waterloo and made a painting of ‘La Belle Alliance’. He also drew a portrait of Napoleon's guide, J. B. Coster.
In 1823 he retired from his profession, having amassed a comfortable fortune, and settled at Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, where he resided for the remainder of his life. He revisited Paris in 1850, and in 1851 made a tour in Germany with Henry Crabb Robinson
Henry Crabb Robinson
Henry Crabb Robinson , diarist, was born in Bury St. Edmunds, England.He was articled to an attorney in Colchester. Between 1800 and 1805 he studied at various places in Germany, and became acquainted with nearly all the great men of letters there, including Goethe, Schiller, Johann Gottfried...
. Masquerier still painted occasionally after his retirement; in 1831 he exhibited ‘A Marriage in the Church of St. Germain l'Auxerrois, Paris,’ and in 1838 ‘Buonaparte and Marie Louise viewing the Tomb of Charles the Bold at Bruges.’ He died at Brighton on 13 March 1855. His remaining pictures, sketch-books, &c., became the property of a relative, D. E. Forbes, and were sold by auction at Christie's on 19 January 1878. A number of his sketch-books were in the possession of his friend, Baroness Burdett Coutts.
Works
Among the notabilities painted by him were Miss Mellon and Miss O'Neil (both in the collection of Baroness Burdett Coutts), and Warren HastingsWarren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
(engraved by S. Freeman for Cadell's ‘Portraits’), besides many of his personal friends and relations. Masquerier painted his own portrait more than once.