Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Grignion, Charles (1754-1804)
GRIGNION or GRIGNON, CHARLES (1754–1804), painter, born in 1754 in Russell Street, Covent Garden, was younger son of Thomas Grignion, a well-known watchmaker in that street, and was nephew of Charles Grignion (1717-1810) [q. v.] In 1705 he obtained a premium at the Society of Arts for a drawing by boys under fourteen, and in 1768 a silver palette for a drawing of the human figure. He was a pupil of Cipriani, and one of the earliest students at the Royal Academy, where in 1776 he obtained the gold medal for an historical picture of 'The Judgment of Hercules,' and in 1782 the travelling pension awarded by the Royal Academy to enable students to go to Rome. In 1770, while a pupil of Cipriani, he exhibited a head in oils at the Academy, and in 1771 and the ten following years, while residing with his father, continued to exhibit portraits and, occasionally, mythological subjects. In 1782 he proceeded to Rome, and in 1784 sent to England a large picture of 'Captain Cook attacked by the Natives of Owyhee in the South Seas, 14 Feb. 1779.' In 1791 he was practising as a history and portrait painter in the Strada Laurina, Rome. He produced many works of excellence, several of which he sent to England. Lord Nelson sat to him for his portrait at Palermo in 1798. During the French invasion he was instrumental in saving many pictures from plunder or destruction, notably the so-called 'Altieri' Claudes. On the French entering Rome he was compelled to retire to Leghorn, where he was attacked by fever, and died on 4 Nov. 1804. He was buried in the British cemetery there. Two drawings by him were engraved, 'An Assassination near the Porta del Popolo' and 'Peasants dancing the Saltarella.' They had been purchased of the artist in Rome by Lord Clive. A drawing of Captain George Farmer (engraved in mezzotint by Murphy) is in the print room at the British Museum.
[Edwards's Anecdotes of Painters; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists; J. T. Smith's Nollekens and his Times; Roy. Acad. Catalogues.]