Katharine Read
(1723-1778), Portrait painterArtist associated with 40 portraits
From an aristocratic family in Dundee. In 1745, she went to Paris to study crayon painting under Maurice-Quentin de La Tour. She moved to Rome in 1751, where she established a portraiture clientele from the Italian aristocracy and the transient British expatriate community in Rome on the grand tour. Read returned to Britain and set up her studio in London in 1753, establishing a reputation as one of the most fashionable portrait painters in crayon, which she sustained for over twenty years. In 1777 Read, accompanied by her niece Helena Beatson, travelled to India in the hope of establishing a practice for herself in Madras. The following year she set sail for the Cape; she died en route and was buried at sea.
by Robert Pranker, after Katharine Read
line engraving, (circa 1750-1775)
NPG D14785
after Katharine Read
mezzotint, (circa 1750-1775)
NPG D15272
Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge)
by Jonathan Spilsbury, published by John Spilsbury, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published September 1764
NPG D3648
Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge)
by Jonathan Spilsbury, published by John Spilsbury, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published September 1764
NPG D5655
Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge)
by Jonathan Spilsbury, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1764
NPG D13745
Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge)
by Jonathan Spilsbury, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published September 1764
NPG D15235
King George IV; Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1770
NPG D33327
by James Watson, sold by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published circa 1765-1772
NPG D39401
after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1780
NPG D4502
after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1780
NPG D4503
by James Watson, sold by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, after 1767
NPG D10660
by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, after 1767
NPG D3401
Helena (née Beatson), Lady Oakeley
by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D23554
William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian when Lord Newbattle; Lady Elizabeth Dormer (née Kerr)
by Valentine Green, published by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D37444
Helena (née Beatson), Lady Oakeley
by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D39340
Helena (née Beatson), Lady Oakeley
by James Watson, published by Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1 January 1768
NPG D14199
Harriet Mackenzie (née Powell), Countess of Seaforth
by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1 October 1769
NPG D40622
by Williams, after Katharine Read
line engraving, 1770
NPG D31911
by James Wilson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D10661
by James Wilson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D36835
by James Wilson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D3396
published by John Bowles, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D3397
published by John Bowles, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D3398
published by John Bowles, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D3399
published by John Bowles, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D3400
Helena (née Beatson), Lady Oakeley
by Elizabeth Judkins, printed for Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1 July 1770
NPG D3710
Elizabeth (née Gunning), Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon
by John Finlayson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D7115
Elizabeth (née Gunning), Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon
by John Finlayson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D7116
Elizabeth (née Gunning), Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon
by John Finlayson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1770
NPG D7117
Maria (née Gunning), Countess of Coventry
by John Finlayson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 15 May 1771
NPG D34185
Maria (née Gunning), Countess of Coventry
by John Finlayson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 15 May 1771
NPG D34186
Mary Sturt; Humphrey Ashley Sturt
by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1771
NPG D42111
Mary Sturt; Humphrey Ashley Sturt
by James Watson, printed for Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 20 June 1771
NPG D42112
Mary Sturt; Humphrey Ashley Sturt
by James Watson, printed for Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 20 June 1771
NPG D42113
Elizabeth (née Gunning), Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon
by Robert Laurie, published by Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 25 February 1771
NPG D7118
Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke aged three years
by Valentine Green, published by John Boydell, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 17 February 1772
NPG D36255
Sir Joseph Sydney Yorke aged three years
by Valentine Green, published by John Boydell, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 17 February 1772
NPG D36256
Lady Elizabeth Dormer (née Kerr); William Kerr, 6th Marquess of Lothian when Lord Newbattle
by Valentine Green, published by Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1779
NPG D5646
Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge)
by Jonathan Spilsbury, published by John Spilsbury, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published September 1764
NPG D20102
by Williams, after Katharine Read
line engraving, 1770
NPG D31845
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