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Robert Dighton

(1751-1814), Portrait painter, caricaturist and actor

Sitter in 4 portraits
Artist associated with 318 portraits
Entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1772 and afterwards set up as a drawing-master and miniature portrait painter. The first prints that he designed were of actors in character for John Bell's edition of Shakespeare's works (1775-6). Dighton became well known as a caricaturist. He satirised lawyers, military officers, actors and actresses, as well as tailors, academics and the down-at-heel types. For a time he combined his career as artist and printseller with that of an actor and singer in the West End. In 1806, Dighton achieved notoriety when it was discovered that he had been stealing prints from the British Museum. His son, Richard Dighton, was also a caricaturist.

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Robert Dighton

by Robert Dighton
pen and sepia wash, circa 1787
NPG 2815

John Moore

by Robert Dighton
hand-coloured etching, 1803
NPG 982e

Abraham Goldsmid

by Robert Dighton
watercolour, 1803
NPG 5477

Landscape study

by Robert Dighton
watercolour, circa 1803
NPG 5477a

Sir David Dundas

by Robert Dighton
coloured etching, 1810
NPG 982d

James William Dodd

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D1647

James William Dodd

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D1648

James Hackman

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1779
NPG D2551

James Hackman

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1779
NPG D2947

William Parsons

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D3812

Richard Wroughton

by Robert Laurie, published by William Richardson, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D4923

George Mattocks

by Robert Laurie, published by William Richardson, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D14410

William Parsons

by Robert Laurie, published by William Richardson, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 10 July 1779
NPG D18932

Isabella Mattocks (née Hallam)

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1780
NPG D3651

Isabella Mattocks (née Hallam)

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1780
NPG D3652

Jane Pope

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1 March 1780
NPG D3921

Frances Wrighten (née Matthews)

by Robert Laurie, published by William Richardson, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1 March 1780
NPG D4920

Elizabeth Bannister (née Harpur)

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1780
NPG D595

Elizabeth Bannister (née Harpur)

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1780
NPG D623

Elizabeth Bannister (née Harpur)

by Robert Laurie, after Robert Dighton
mezzotint, published 1780
NPG D624

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Robert Dighton