Robert Dighton (c.1752 – 1814) was an English portrait painter, printmaker, and caricaturist. He was the founder of a dynasty of artists who followed in his footsteps.
Robert Dighton was the son of London printseller John Dighton.[1] In the 1770s he began acting and singing in plays at the Haymarket Theatre, Covent Garden, and Sadler’s Wells while at the same time training and exhibiting at the Royal Academy, whose school he entered in 1772.[2] He also exhibited at the Free Society of Artists between 1769–73. The first prints he designed were of actors for John Bell's edition of Shakespeare (1775–76).
As an artist, he was first offered consistent employment by the publisher Carington Bowles (fl. 1752–93). This was the heyday of the so-called 'droll' mezzotint, and Dighton's designs, executed in watercolour and then engraved, were an integral part of Bowles’s stock. Carington Bowles was also among London's most active mapsellers of his day, which goes some way to explaining the inclusion of some caricature maps by Dighton in Bowles’s Geography Bewitched! series, including those of Ireland, England, Wales,[3] and Scotland.[4]
Much of Dighton's early work was issued anonymously, but by the early 1790s it became increasingly well known, so he began etching and publishing under his own name. In awkward poses with ruddy faces, Dighton's satirical caricatures included lawyers, military officers, actors and actresses, and even down-at-heel types. In 1795 he brought out a Book of Heads and thenceforth devoted himself chiefly to caricature. His work is less biting than that of his contemporaries James Gilray and George Cruikshank.
By the start of the century, his success allowed him to open a shop in Charing Cross, where he sold his own prints and those of others until it emerged in 1806 that part of his stock was stolen from the British Museum. An art dealer by the name of Samuel Woodburn had purchased a print, an impression of Rembrandt's Coach Landscape, from Dighton and, supposing it might be a copy, took the print to the British Museum to compare it with the impression there.[5] When it was discovered that their impression was missing, Dighton confessed that he had befriended a museum official by drawing portraits of him and his daughter during his visits and used this relationship to remove prints from the museum hidden in his portfolio.[6]
Because of his co-operation, Dighton escaped prosecution, but he was forced to lie low in Oxford until the scandal died down. While there, as well as in Bath and Cambridge, he did an amusing series of portraits of academic types and country gentlemen.[7] Returning to London in 1810, he reopened his studio, where he worked with his sons until his death in 1814.
A satirical image of Elizabeth Farren and Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, 1795
Geography Bewitched!
The second and third generationsedit
Sons
Robert Jr (1786-1865) etched military portraits between 1800–09, then made a career in the military.[8]
Denis (1792-1827) began in the military, then trained as an artist. He specialised in military subjects.[9]
Richard (1796?-1880) was first an apprentice to his father, whose business he continued after his death. Then he moved it and his family to Cheltenham and Worcester.[10]
Grandsons
Richard Dighton Jr (1824–1891), Richard's elder son, established himself later in life as a photographer with a studio in Cheltenham.
Joshua Dighton (1831–1908), Richard's second son, was born in Worcester. Well known for his portraits of jockeys, he was active in the London area as a portraitist and photographer.[11]
Notesedit
^"Robert Dighton (British Museum Biographical details)".
^Bryant, Mark; Henneage, Simon (1994). Dictionary of British Cartoonists and Caricaturists, 1730-1988. London, England: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd. p. 61. ISBN978-0859679763.
^. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^"Geography Bewitched!or, a droll Caricature MAP of SCOTLAND". 16 January 1794. Retrieved 16 January 2024 – via Wikimedia Commons.
^Van Camp, An (2013). Robert Dighton and his spurious collectors' marks on Rembrandt prints in the British Museum, London', in The Burlington Magazine 155. London, England: The Burlington Magazine. pp. 88–94.
^Griffiths, Anthony (1996). Landmarks in Print Collecting. London, England: British Museum. pp. 10, 49–50, 60, 276–831.
^Examples of his work from this period can be viewed here
^"Biographies - Robert Dighton Jnr - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^"Biographies - Denis Dighton - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^"Biographies - Richard Dighton - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
^"Biographies - The Third Generation - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
Referencesedit
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Bryan, Michael (1886). "Dighton, Robert". In Graves, Robert Edmund (ed.). Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers (A–K). Vol. I (3rd ed.). London: George Bell & Sons.
Media related to Robert Dighton at Wikimedia Commons
270 works at the National Portrait Gallery
Works in galleries and elsewhere online at Art Cyclopaedia
April 12, 2024
robert, dighton, english, politician, 1752, 1814, english, portrait, painter, printmaker, caricaturist, founder, dynasty, artists, followed, footsteps, etching, from, self, portrait, circa, 1787born1752, london, died1814, aged, london, occupationcaricaturist, . For the English politician see Robert Dighton MP Robert Dighton c 1752 1814 was an English portrait painter printmaker and caricaturist He was the founder of a dynasty of artists who followed in his footsteps Robert DightonEtching from a self portrait circa 1787Born1752 London Died1814 aged 61 62 London OccupationCaricaturist painter printmaker ChildrenRichard Dighton Denis Dighton Robert Dighton Contents 1 Life and work 2 The second and third generations 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksLife and work editRobert Dighton was the son of London printseller John Dighton 1 In the 1770s he began acting and singing in plays at the Haymarket Theatre Covent Garden and Sadler s Wells while at the same time training and exhibiting at the Royal Academy whose school he entered in 1772 2 He also exhibited at the Free Society of Artists between 1769 73 The first prints he designed were of actors for John Bell s edition of Shakespeare 1775 76 As an artist he was first offered consistent employment by the publisher Carington Bowles fl 1752 93 This was the heyday of the so called droll mezzotint and Dighton s designs executed in watercolour and then engraved were an integral part of Bowles s stock Carington Bowles was also among London s most active mapsellers of his day which goes some way to explaining the inclusion of some caricature maps by Dighton in Bowles s Geography Bewitched series including those of Ireland England Wales 3 and Scotland 4 Much of Dighton s early work was issued anonymously but by the early 1790s it became increasingly well known so he began etching and publishing under his own name In awkward poses with ruddy faces Dighton s satirical caricatures included lawyers military officers actors and actresses and even down at heel types In 1795 he brought out a Book of Heads and thenceforth devoted himself chiefly to caricature His work is less biting than that of his contemporaries James Gilray and George Cruikshank By the start of the century his success allowed him to open a shop in Charing Cross where he sold his own prints and those of others until it emerged in 1806 that part of his stock was stolen from the British Museum An art dealer by the name of Samuel Woodburn had purchased a print an impression of Rembrandt s Coach Landscape from Dighton and supposing it might be a copy took the print to the British Museum to compare it with the impression there 5 When it was discovered that their impression was missing Dighton confessed that he had befriended a museum official by drawing portraits of him and his daughter during his visits and used this relationship to remove prints from the museum hidden in his portfolio 6 Because of his co operation Dighton escaped prosecution but he was forced to lie low in Oxford until the scandal died down While there as well as in Bath and Cambridge he did an amusing series of portraits of academic types and country gentlemen 7 Returning to London in 1810 he reopened his studio where he worked with his sons until his death in 1814 nbsp A satirical image of Elizabeth Farren and Edward Smith Stanley 12th Earl of Derby 1795 nbsp Geography Bewitched The second and third generations editSonsRobert Jr 1786 1865 etched military portraits between 1800 09 then made a career in the military 8 Denis 1792 1827 began in the military then trained as an artist He specialised in military subjects 9 Richard 1796 1880 was first an apprentice to his father whose business he continued after his death Then he moved it and his family to Cheltenham and Worcester 10 GrandsonsRichard Dighton Jr 1824 1891 Richard s elder son established himself later in life as a photographer with a studio in Cheltenham Joshua Dighton 1831 1908 Richard s second son was born in Worcester Well known for his portraits of jockeys he was active in the London area as a portraitist and photographer 11 Notes edit Robert Dighton British Museum Biographical details Bryant Mark Henneage Simon 1994 Dictionary of British Cartoonists and Caricaturists 1730 1988 London England Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd p 61 ISBN 978 0859679763 Map Forum Archived from the original on 1 August 2019 Retrieved 16 January 2024 Geography Bewitched or a droll Caricature MAP of SCOTLAND 16 January 1794 Retrieved 16 January 2024 via Wikimedia Commons Van Camp An 2013 Robert Dighton and his spurious collectors marks on Rembrandt prints in the British Museum London in The Burlington Magazine 155 London England The Burlington Magazine pp 88 94 Griffiths Anthony 1996 Landmarks in Print Collecting London England British Museum pp 10 49 50 60 276 831 Examples of his work from this period can be viewed here Biographies Robert Dighton Jnr National Portrait Gallery www npg org uk Retrieved 16 January 2024 Biographies Denis Dighton National Portrait Gallery www npg org uk Retrieved 16 January 2024 Biographies Richard Dighton National Portrait Gallery www npg org uk Retrieved 16 January 2024 Biographies The Third Generation National Portrait Gallery www npg org uk Retrieved 16 January 2024 References edit nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Bryan Michael 1886 Dighton Robert In Graves Robert Edmund ed Bryan s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers A K Vol I 3rd ed London George Bell amp Sons nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Stephen Leslie ed 1888 Dighton Robert Dictionary of National Biography Vol 15 London Smith Elder amp Co pp 74 5 External links edit nbsp Media related to Robert Dighton at Wikimedia Commons 270 works at the National Portrait Gallery Works in galleries and elsewhere online at Art Cyclopaedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Dighton amp oldid 1216594313, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
