John Kay (cartoonist)

John Kay ( April 1742 at Dalkeith , Midlothian ; † February 21, 1826 in Edinburgh ) was a Scottish caricaturist and miniature painter .

Self-portrait with a cat and Homer bust

Life

John Kay began an apprenticeship with George Heriot in Dalkeith at the age of 13 and moved to Edinburgh six years later, where he initially continued to work in his learned profession as a bath . In his spare time he began to draw portrait sketches and caricatures of Edinburgh characters. William Nisbet from Dirleton became aware of him and supported him so that he could give up his job in 1785. He bought a printing company and began to sell his works in larger editions. Between 1784 and 1822 he must have created around 900 portraits, including a portrait of Adam Smith , which is considered to be the only portrait created during the depicted's lifetime. Not all of John Kay's depicted were satisfied with their portrayal. Sometimes they bought up the prints to destroy, and Kay was also the target of physical attacks.

In 1792 John Kay prepared to publish his pictures in book form, but it was not until posthumously, in 1837 and 1838, that 340 of his works were compiled by Hugh Paton and published in two volumes. They were entitled A series of original portraits and caricature etchings by the late John Kay, with biographical sketches and illustrative anecdotes and enjoyed great popularity. The third, expanded edition appeared in four volumes in 1877.

From 1811 to 1816 Kay participated in the annual exhibitions of the Edinburgh Associated Artists. He also contributed to the exhibition of the Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts in Scotland, which took place in 1822.

Kay's self-portrait from 1786 shows John Kay next to a bust of Homer . His favorite cat, considered the largest cat in Scotland, sits on the arm of his armchair.

literature

Mary & Hilary Evans : John Kay of Edinburgh: Barber, Miniaturist and Social Commentator 1742-1826. Impulse Publications, 1973, ISBN 0-901311-28-6

Web links

Commons : John Kay - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Literature by and about John Kay in the catalog of the German National Library
“John Kay (1742–1826)” in the Walter Scott Digital Archive of the University of Edinburgh

Individual evidence

↑ Undiscovered Scotland: Biography: John Kay

personal data
SURNAME	Kay, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Scottish cartoonist
DATE OF BIRTH	April 1742
PLACE OF BIRTH	at Dalkeith
DATE OF DEATH	February 21, 1826
Place of death	Edinburgh

[1] Undiscovered Scotland: Biography: John Kay