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John Kay

(1742-1826), Miniature painter and caricaturist

Sitter in 4 portraits
Artist associated with 288 portraits
The son of a mason, Kay was apprenticed at the age of thirteen to George Heriot, a barber in Dalkeith. Six years later, he moved to Edinburgh where he continued to work as a barber. In his spare time, he began to produce highly original portrait sketches and caricatures of Edinburgh characters, despite having received no formal training. Kay attracted the patronage of William Nisbet of Dirleton, who settled an annuity upon him, and in 1785 he was finally able to give up his trade for art. From 1784 to 1822, he etched nearly nine hundred plates portraying many notable Scotsmen of the day. Many of his satirical prints were bought by his subjects themselves with the express purpose of destroying them.

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Unknown man, called John Knox

by John Kay, probably after de Vos
etching, circa 1780s-1810s
NPG D42334

An Exchange of Heads (Hugo Arnot; Roger Hog; William Macpherson)

by John Kay
etching and aquatint, 1780s
NPG D16864

William Martin

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D31988

William Doyle; Samuel Sone; William Foster; with three celebrated beauties

by John Kay
etching and aquatint, 1784
NPG D32327

John Wemyss; Robert Clerk; George Pratt

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D32459

Henry Home, Lord Kames; Hugo Arnot; James Burnett, Lord Monboddo

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D32361

James Robertson of Kincraigie; John Dhu (Dow, MacDonald); Jamie Duff

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D32342

Sir James Livingstone Campbell, Bt, of Ardkinglass

by John Kay
etching, circa 1784-1788
NPG D32345

Sir James Livingstone Campbell, Bt, of Ardkinglass

by John Kay
etching, circa 1784-1788
NPG D32346

John Campbell

by John Kay
etching and aquatint, circa 1784-1795
NPG D32347

James Graham, 3rd Duke of Montrose; David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D43277

George Fairholme; John McGowan; Charles Byrne; Alexander Watson; Geordie Cranstoun

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D46115

William Richardson; Andrew Bell; Mr Knipe; Lord Monboddo; Charles Byrne; Mr Knipe; Baillie Kyd

by John Kay
etching and aquatint, 1784
NPG D14755

William Cullen

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D18638

George Fairholme; John McGowan; Charles Byrne; Alexander Watson; Geordie Cranstoun

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D18639

Henry Home, Lord Kames; Hugo Arnot; James Burnett, Lord Monboddo

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D18640

Contemplation (James Burnett, Lord Monboddo)

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D16263

Contemplation (James Burnett, Lord Monboddo)

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D16264

Retaliation; or the Cudgeller Caught

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D16235

Hon. Basil Cochrane; James Edgar; a beggar

by John Kay
etching, 1784
NPG D16273

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John Kay

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