Angelo’s School of Arms in Soho was founded by legendary fencing master Domenico Angelo in 1758. Domenico authored a book on fencing and is credited with establishing many of the principles of modern fencing.
The School officially began in 1763, with the emphasis on strategy and scientific swordsmanship (Evangelista, 1995). He had subscriptions from roughly 236 noblemen and gentlemen (Castle, 2012). There was a rising popularity of the sport as a competitive, spectator sport that helped spur popularity for the School (Quinn, 2018).
Henry Angelo took over for his father in 1785, expanding the business to include amateur matches and ticket competitions while fostering the “club like atmosphere” that would’ve been known to men in the Regency era (Quinn, 2018) . Henry encouraged Gentlemen Jackson to set up his boxing studio, and the two would eventually set up next to each other in Bond Street. Henry I would continue until his retirement in 1817, when his son Henry II took over.
You can read an autobiography about Henry I here.
Henry I worked with Rowlandson on a series of figures on fencing. Rowlandson also produced several paintings featuring the fencing master.
For their subscription, gentlemen were “entitled to the use of the Academy on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from twelve till three” (Quinn, 2018). This included sparring with other fencers.
Angelo’s Ecole des Armes was a “household word” among fashionable gentlemen (Castle, 2012) and a place for Corinthians to go sport mad.
For another lovely post on the School: http://lydiagastrell.blogspot.com/2016/01/jackson-angelo-teaching-regency.html
