. John Opie. Portrait of the artist's father-in-law James Alderson.
James Alderson: In 1742 he was born to J Alderson. In October 1825 he died.
On 16th May 1761 John Opie was born.
On 4th December 1782 John Opie [aged 21] and Mary Bunn were married at St Martin in the Fields Church [Map].
Dictionary of National Biography: Opie's first cares in his new prosperity were to surround his mother with comfort, and to provide himself with a wife. On 4 December 1782 he married Mary Bunn at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. She was a daughter of Benjamin Bunn of St. Botolpn's, Aldgate, who combined the business of a solicitor with that of a money-lender. The match was unhappy. In 1795 the lady eloped with one John Edwards, and in the following year Opie obtained a divorce.
1785. John Opie [aged 23]. Self-portrait.
1787. John Opie [aged 25]. "The Murder of Rizzio".
Around 1790. John Opie [aged 28]. Portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft [aged 30].
1794. John Opie [aged 32]. Portrait of Henry Fuseli [aged 52].
In 1796 John Opie [aged 34] and Mary Bunn were divorced.
Around 1797. John Opie [aged 35]. Portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft [aged 37].
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
1798. John Opie [aged 36]. Portrait of the artist's wife Amelia Alderson [aged 28].
Amelia Alderson: On 12th November 1769 she was born to James Alderson and Amelia Briggs. On 2nd December 1853 she died at midnight. She was buried in the same grave as her father, in the Friends* burying-ground at Norwich.
After 1798. John Opie [aged 36]. Portrait of the artist's wife Amelia Alderson [aged 28].
On 8th May 1798 John Opie [aged 36] and Amelia Alderson [aged 28] were married at St Marylebone Church.
Dictionary of National Biography: Meanwhile he had married again, and this time his choice was very fortunate. It was at an evening party at Norwich that he first met Amelia Alderson, the daughter of a doctor of that town, and cousin of Baron Alderson [aged 10]. He fell in love at first sight. They were married at Marylebone Church on 8 May 1798, and lived till his death at 8 Berners Street, whither he had moved in 1791. They were thoroughly suited to each other; she appreciated liis genius and character. A grace was afterwards observed in his works, especially his female portraits, which they had lacked before. At first fortune did not seem to favour them, and there was a short period at the end of 1801 and the beginning of 1802 when he was wholly without employment; Mrs. Opie considered these ' three alarming months ' as the severest trial in her married life. Then a ' torrent of business ' came, and never ceased to flow till the day of his death.
Around 1804. John Opie [aged 42]. Self-Portrait.
Around 1804. John Opie [aged 42]. Portrait of William Henry Hanover 1st Duke Gloucester and Edinburgh [aged 60].
. 1805. John Opie [aged 43]. Portrait of Robert Southey [aged 30].
. 1805. John Opie [aged 43]. Portrait of Edward Boscawen [aged 17].
1805. John Opie [aged 43]. Self-portrait.
1805. John Opie [aged 43]. Portrait of Bishop Shute Barrington [aged 70].
On 9th April 1817 John Opie [aged 55] died. He was buried at St Paul's Cathedral [Map].
This is a translation of the 'Memoires of Jacques du Clercq', published in 1823 in two volumes, edited by Frederic, Baron de Reissenberg. In his introduction Reissenberg writes: 'Jacques du Clercq tells us that he was born in 1424, and that he was a licentiate in law and a counsellor to Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in the castellany of Douai, Lille, and Orchies. It appears that he established his residence at Arras. In 1446, he married the daughter of Baldwin de la Lacherie, a gentleman who lived in Lille. We read in the fifth book of his Memoirs that his father, also named Jacques du Clercq, had married a lady of the Le Camelin family, from Compiègne. His ancestors, always attached to the counts of Flanders, had constantly served them, whether in their councils or in their armies.' The Memoires cover a period of nineteen years beginning in in 1448, ending in in 1467. It appears that the author had intended to extend the Memoirs beyond that date; no doubt illness or death prevented him from carrying out this plan. As Reissenberg writes the 'merit of this work lies in the simplicity of its narrative, in its tone of good faith, and in a certain air of frankness which naturally wins the reader’s confidence.' Du Clercq ranges from events of national and international importance, including events of the Wars of the Roses in England, to simple, everyday local events such as marriages, robberies, murders, trials and deaths, including that of his own father in Book 5; one of his last entries.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
On 2nd December 1853 [his former wife] Amelia Alderson [aged 84] died at midnight. She was buried in the same grave as her father, in the Friends* burying-ground at Norwich.