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Katharine Read

(1723-1778), Portrait painter

Artist associated with 41 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.

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Juliana Baker (née Penn), by Robert Pranker, after Katharine Read - NPG D14785

Juliana Baker (née Penn)

by Robert Pranker, after Katharine Read
line engraving, (circa 1750-1775)
NPG D14785

Miss Trimmer, after Katharine Read - NPG D15272

Miss Trimmer

after Katharine Read
mezzotint, (circa 1750-1775)
NPG D15272

Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge), by Jonathan Spilsbury, published by John Spilsbury, after Katharine Read - NPG D3648

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 - NPG D5655

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 - NPG D13745

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 - NPG D15235

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 - NPG D33327

King George IV; Frederick, Duke of York and Albany

by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1770
NPG D33327

Miss Trimmer, by James Watson, sold by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read - NPG D39401

Miss Trimmer

by James Watson, sold by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published circa 1765-1772
NPG D39401

Miss Trimmer, after Katharine Read - NPG D4502

Miss Trimmer

after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1780
NPG D4502

Miss Trimmer, after Katharine Read - NPG D4503

Miss Trimmer

after Katharine Read
mezzotint, circa 1765-1780
NPG D4503

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones), by James Watson, sold by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read - NPG D10660

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones)

by James Watson, sold by Ryland and Bryer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, after 1767
NPG D10660

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones), by James Watson, after Katharine Read - NPG D3401

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones)

by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, after 1767
NPG D3401

Lady Helena Oakeley (née Beatson), by James Watson, after Katharine Read - NPG D23554

Lady Helena Oakeley (née Beatson)

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 - NPG D37444

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

Lady Helena Oakeley (née Beatson), by James Watson, after Katharine Read - NPG D39340

Lady Helena Oakeley (née Beatson)

by James Watson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1768
NPG D39340

Lady Helena Oakeley (née Beatson), by James Watson, published by Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read - NPG D14199

Lady Helena Oakeley (née Beatson)

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 - NPG D40622

Harriet Mackenzie (née Powell), Countess of Seaforth

by Richard Houston, published by Robert Sayer, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, published 1 October 1769
NPG D40622

Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge) in the character of a Roman matron lamenting the lost liberties of Rome, by Williams, after Katharine Read - NPG D31911

Catharine Macaulay (née Sawbridge) in the character of a Roman matron lamenting the lost liberties of Rome

by Williams, after Katharine Read
line engraving, 1770
NPG D31911

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones), by James Wilson, after Katharine Read - NPG D10661

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones)

by James Wilson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D10661

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones), by James Wilson, after Katharine Read - NPG D36835

Polly Kennedy (Polly Jones)

by James Wilson, after Katharine Read
mezzotint, 1770s
NPG D36835

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