Thomas Patch (1725-1782), Painter and engraver

Sitter associated with 3 portraits
Artist associated with 5 portraits
Thomas Patch forged a career for himself in Italy as an art dealer, painter and engraver. He was the son of a doctor and was expected to become an apothecary. In 1747 he travelled to Rome, where he met Joshua Reynolds and worked in the studio of Joseph Vernet, producing pastiches of Vernet's work and his own views of Tivoli. In 1755 he was banished from Rome by the Papacy, accused of homosexual indiscretion. He went to Florence and began producing caricatures, usually of English Grand Tourists socialising. In most of these group paintings, Patch included himself as a sitter often in an ironic manner. He was also engaged in art dealing.