John Alefounder was a portrait and miniature painter. He was a student of 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...

 Schools, practised for some time in London the art of portraiture, occasionally in miniature

Portrait miniature

A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...

.

He exhibited first, in 1777, an architectural design, following in successive years with work in various kinds. He gained a silver medal in 1782. In 1784 he exhibited some theatrical portraits and portrait groups. Bartolozzi

Francesco Bartolozzi

Francesco Bartolozzi was an Italian engraver, whose most productive period was spent in London.He was born in Florence...

 engraved the portrait of 'Peter the Wild Boy

Peter the Wild Boy

Peter the Wild Boy was a mentally handicapped boy from Hannover in northern Germany who was found in 1725 living wild in the woods near Hamelin , the town of Pied Piper legend...

,' after him, and in the same year Hodges

William Hodges

William Hodges RA was an English painter. He was a member of James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific Ocean, and is best known for the sketches and paintings of locations he visited on that voyage, including Table Bay, Tahiti, Easter Island, and the Antarctic.Hodges was born in London. He was a...

 engraved his portrait of J. Edwin the Actor

John Edwin (1749-1790)

John Edwin , English actor, was born in London, the son of a watchmaker.As a youth, he appeared in the provinces, in minor parts; and at Bath in 1768 he formed a connexion with a Mrs Walmsley, a milliner, who bore him a son, but whom he afterwards deserted...

. He subsequently went to India, and realised some fortune by his paintings there. He died in 1795 at Calcutta, from the effects of the climate. At the Society of Arts may be seen a portrait by him of John Shipley.

External links

• John Alefounder 1757-1794, artist (Alefounder ancestors)