He owned a menagerie which he toured around England in the late 18th century. He went into partnership with another menagerist named Miles in 1798, and "Miles and Polito's Menagerie" exhibited at St Bartholomew's Fair in 1799. Polito's menagerie also attended Nottingham Goose Fair in 1807.
Polito acquired the permanent menagerie at Exeter Exchange in the Strand in London from the Pidcock family in 1810, and renamed it the Royal Menagerie. He continued to tour in the summer, and exhibited his animals at Exeter Exchange in the winter. The menagerie at Exeter Exchange was very popular during Polito's short period of ownership. It was visited by William Wordsworth and Lord Byron, and animals in his collection were painted by Edwin Landseer and Jacques-Laurent Agasse. The menagerie lions, tigers, hyenas, zebras, kangaroos, and many other exotic animals, and the elephant Chunee, which was shot to death in 1826.
His collection was acquired by his brother, John, after his death, and then by a former employee, Edward Cross (also John's father in law). Cross continued to tour under the name "Polito's Menagerie". It is represented on pearlware pottery from the 1830s.
External linksedit
Decorative pearlware plate (c.1830), inscribed "Politos. Royal. Menagerie", attributed to Staffordshire potter Obadiah Sherratt
Biography of Stephanus Polito
Announcement of the arrival of the Royal Menagerie at the Exeter 'Change, from Bishopsgate Institute
A playbill from the menagerie (early-mid 19th century)
Interior view of Polito's Royal Menagerie, Exeter Change, Strand, 1812
stephen, polito, also, known, stephano, stephani, stephanus, polito, 1763, 1814, moltrasio, menagerie, owner, italian, descent, georgian, england, staffordshire, pottery, flat, back, mantelpiece, ornament, 1830, menagerie, polito, family, polito, born, italy, . Stephen Polito also known as Stephano Stephani and Stephanus Polito 1763 4 1814 in Moltrasio was a menagerie owner of Italian descent in Georgian England Staffordshire pottery flat back mantelpiece ornament c 1830 of the Menagerie of the Polito family Polito was born in Italy in Moltrasio He owned a menagerie which he toured around England in the late 18th century He went into partnership with another menagerist named Miles in 1798 and Miles and Polito s Menagerie exhibited at St Bartholomew s Fair in 1799 Polito s menagerie also attended Nottingham Goose Fair in 1807 Polito acquired the permanent menagerie at Exeter Exchange in the Strand in London from the Pidcock family in 1810 and renamed it the Royal Menagerie He continued to tour in the summer and exhibited his animals at Exeter Exchange in the winter The menagerie at Exeter Exchange was very popular during Polito s short period of ownership It was visited by William Wordsworth and Lord Byron and animals in his collection were painted by Edwin Landseer and Jacques Laurent Agasse The menagerie lions tigers hyenas zebras kangaroos and many other exotic animals and the elephant Chunee which was shot to death in 1826 His collection was acquired by his brother John after his death and then by a former employee Edward Cross also John s father in law Cross continued to tour under the name Polito s Menagerie It is represented on pearlware pottery from the 1830s External links editDecorative pearlware plate c 1830 inscribed Politos Royal Menagerie attributed to Staffordshire potter Obadiah Sherratt Biography of Stephanus Polito Announcement of the arrival of the Royal Menagerie at the Exeter Change from Bishopsgate Institute A playbill from the menagerie early mid 19th century Interior view of Polito s Royal Menagerie Exeter Change Strand 1812Further reading editStephen Polito Oxford Dictionary of National Biography nbsp This British biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen Polito amp oldid 1215679879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
