Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rigaud, Stephen Francis Dutilh
RIGAUD, STEPHEN FRANCIS DUTILH (1777–1861), painter, only son of John Francis Rigaud, R.A. [q. v.], was born at 44 Great Titchfield Street, London, on 26 Dec. 1777. One of his godfathers was Stephen Rigaud, father of Stephen Peter Rigaud, Savilian professor of astronomy at Oxford, who was in no way related to him. Rigaud was brought up by his father as an artist, and in 1792 was admitted a student of the Royal Academy. In 1794 he gained the silver palette from the Society of Arts for a classical group, and in 1799 the gold palette for an historical painting. In 1801 he gained the gold medal of the Royal Academy for an historical painting of ‘Clytemnestra.’ In 1798, while on a visit to the Rev. Robert Nixon at Foot's Cray in Kent, he accompanied Nixon and J. M. W. Turner on a sketching tour through Kent. He was the constant companion and assistant of his father in many of his decorative paintings at Packington, Windsor Castle, and elsewhere. In 1805 he was one of the first six members added to the foundation members of the ‘Old’ Society of Painters in Water-colours. He exhibited many drawings with the society as well as pictures at the Royal Academy and British Institution, his subjects being sacred, classical, or drawn from Milton, Ossian, and other poets. After the temporary dissolution of the water-colour society in November 1812, he dropped out of their ranks. In 1814 he was a member of a rival water-colour society which held exhibitions in that and the following years. Rigaud had, on 1 Jan. 1808, married Miss Margaret Davies of Milford Haven, and in 1817, owing to his wife's health, he gave up professional work as an artist and removed to Pembrokeshire. After his wife's death, on 1 Jan. 1839, he returned to London, but met with little success on resuming his profession. He died in 1861, at the age of eighty-five, and was buried in Abney Park cemetery. He left no family.
[Manuscript memoir of John Francis Rigaud, R.A., by his son; Roget's Hist. of ‘Old Water Colour’ Society.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.234
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
| Page | Col. | Line | |
| 297 | ii | 25 | Rigaud, Stephen F. D.: for 1862) read 1861) |
| l.l. | for in 1808 read on 1 Jan. 1808 and for Miss Margaret Davies read Margaret, daughter of John Davies | ||
| 298 | i | 4 | after death insert on 1 Jan. 1839 |
| 7 | for 1862 read 1861 |