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Robert Dighton
Robert Dighton

Robert Dighton

English, 1751-1814
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Robert Dighton was born c.1752 in London and died there in 1814. 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 the London printseller John Dighton .. 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 - he entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1722. 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 Robert's output of designs, executed in watercolour and then engraved, was an integral part of his stock. Carington Bowles was among of the most active mapsellers of his day in London, which will explain Dighton’s caricature maps in his “Geography Bewitched” series, including Ireland, England and Wales and Scotland.

Much of Dighton's early work was issued anonymously, but by the early 1790s it became increasingly well known and he began etching and publishing under his own name. In awkward poses and with ruddy faces, Dighton's satirical caricatures included lawyers, military officers, actors and actresses who were seen about town, as well as down-at-heel types. In 1795 he brought out a Book of Heads and thenceforth devoted himself chiefly to caricature. His work is noted as being less savage than that of his contemporaries, James Gilray and George Cruickshank.

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. 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.

Because of his co-operation, Dighton escaped prosecution but was forced to lie low in Oxford until the scandal died down. While there he did an amusing series of portraits of academic types and country gentlemen, as well as in Bath and Cambridge. Returning to London in 1810, he reopened his studio, where he worked with his sons until his death in 1814

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Margaret Nicholson attempting to assassinate Majesty King George IIId, at the garden entrance of St. James’s Palace, 2d August, 1786.

Margaret Nicholson attempting to assassinate Majesty King George IIId, at the garden entrance of St. James’s Palace, 2d August, 1786. (1786)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view near Hyde Park corner.

A view near Hyde Park corner. (1802)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view of Norfolk

A view of Norfolk (1809)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view taken at Oxford.

A view taken at Oxford. (1808)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view taken from Bladuds Buildings, Bath.

A view taken from Bladuds Buildings, Bath. (1809)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view taken from Chatham Row, Bath.

A view taken from Chatham Row, Bath. (1809)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view taken from the Town Hall Oxford.

A view taken from the Town Hall Oxford. (1807)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Brook Watson

Brook Watson (1803)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Geography bewitched! Or, a droll caricature map of England and Wales.

Geography bewitched! Or, a droll caricature map of England and Wales. (1794)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Geography bewitched! Or, a droll caricature map of Scotland.

Geography bewitched! Or, a droll caricature map of Scotland. (1794)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Hamlet in Scotland.

Hamlet in Scotland. (1794)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
If you’d know who this is, Read.

If you’d know who this is, Read. (1808)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Ireland in Scotland, or a trip from Oxford to the land of cakes.

Ireland in Scotland, or a trip from Oxford to the land of cakes. (1807)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
John Doe & Richd. Roe. Brothers in Law.

John Doe & Richd. Roe. Brothers in Law. (1796)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
A view from the Swan Brewhouse in Oxford.

A view from the Swan Brewhouse in Oxford. (1807)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Members of the Whig Club.

Members of the Whig Club. (1798)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Mother Goose of Oxford.

Mother Goose of Oxford. (1807)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Old Q-uiz the old goat of Piccadilly

Old Q-uiz the old goat of Piccadilly (1796)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Taken in the Pit at the opera house

Taken in the Pit at the opera house (1805)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The arms and supporters of a debateing society.

The arms and supporters of a debateing society. (1798)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The contrast. A park scene

The contrast. A park scene (1780)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The hopes of Britain blown away thro’ a speaking trum-Pitt.

The hopes of Britain blown away thro’ a speaking trum-Pitt. (1797)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The principal arch of Lambeth Palace.

The principal arch of Lambeth Palace. (1803)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The Royal cock-Pitt.

The Royal cock-Pitt. (1796)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The specious orator

The specious orator (1794)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
The Towns-end

The Towns-end (1804)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Vil you give us a glass of gin. I’ll see you d–n’d first.

Vil you give us a glass of gin. I’ll see you d–n’d first. (1793)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Illustration
Sir Alexander Hood, Bart.

Sir Alexander Hood, Bart. (ca. 1810)

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Figurative
Tally Ho!

Tally Ho!

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Figurative
Intelligence On The Peace

Intelligence On The Peace

Robert Dighton (English, 1751-1814)
Figurative
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