Artist. An Anglo-Italian caricaturist known as “Ape”, he was born in Capua, the son of a landed proprietor whose inheritance he soon squandered. When the Italian War of Independence broke out, he volunteered for Giuseppe Garibaldi's army and fought at the Volturno and at Capua. In November 1864, however, he left Italy, partly because of an unhappy love affair, and partly because his sister had died. He never returned. Soon after his arrival in England, he had spent what little money he had; however, he could draw, and his first cartoon appeared in the magazine "Vanity Fair" on the 30th. January 1869. It was of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, and was followed the next week by one of William Gladstone. These early pictures were signed "Singe", but he soon changed his signature to "Ape", although his friends called him "Pelican." Over the following years, he produced several hundred portraits of statesmen and men of the day, drawn from memory. One of his finest was of Sir Anthony Panizzi, who is buried in the grave in front of him. He died of lung disease at his house, 53 Martins Street, near Cavendish Square.
Artist. An Anglo-Italian caricaturist known as “Ape”, he was born in Capua, the son of a landed proprietor whose inheritance he soon squandered. When the Italian War of Independence broke out, he volunteered for Giuseppe Garibaldi's army and fought at the Volturno and at Capua. In November 1864, however, he left Italy, partly because of an unhappy love affair, and partly because his sister had died. He never returned. Soon after his arrival in England, he had spent what little money he had; however, he could draw, and his first cartoon appeared in the magazine "Vanity Fair" on the 30th. January 1869. It was of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, and was followed the next week by one of William Gladstone. These early pictures were signed "Singe", but he soon changed his signature to "Ape", although his friends called him "Pelican." Over the following years, he produced several hundred portraits of statesmen and men of the day, drawn from memory. One of his finest was of Sir Anthony Panizzi, who is buried in the grave in front of him. He died of lung disease at his house, 53 Martins Street, near Cavendish Square.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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