The City Tron-Men. Original etching, by John Kay, Edinburgh caricaturist, c1805

Description: Original etching, by the listed Edinburgh caricaturist and etcher John Kay (1742 - 1826), published by Hugh Paton in 1838.The City Tron-Men or Chimney Sweepers.The plate etched by William or John Kay circa 1805, published in "A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the late John Kay, Miniature Painter", Edinburgh, Vol. 2’; published by Hugh Paton in 1838. Examples with the plate number inscribed with the image are from the later edition published by Adam and Charles Black, Edinburgh 1877.Signed in the plate lower right "WKF". Clearly this raises questions about the artist - although Hugh Paton includes this etching in his publication, stylistically it is different from John Kay's work and likely to be by his son, William Kay, with the initials being short for William Kay Fecit.Inscribed at the top of the image 'Blair Street' & 'Lottery Office, Thompson & Son'. Please note, the last image of the title page of Hugh Paton's book, is for reference only and is not included in the listing.Etching printed in black ink on wove paper. In a modern Hogarth style print frame with single mount. With the collectors label on the back board giving the title of the print and it's number in the series in roman numerals.Etching in excellent original condition, a good impression with fine detail (see photos), frame with some slight nicks and scratches, mount clean (see photos). Plate size 19.5cm x 12.5cm, frame size 32cm x 24.5cm. Delivered ready to hang.Comes with our Certificate of Authenticity - guaranteed authentic and original.One of a collection of etchings from the series that I have listed.Overseas buyers, please check delivery charge to your location through the eBay Global Shipping Program. John Kay 1742 – 1826Scottish caricaturist and engraver.John Kay was born in April 1742 in Gibraltar Cottage just south of Dalkeith, Scotland, where his father, John Kay, worked as a mason. His mother, Helen Alexander, owned several properties in Edinburgh and the Canongate and was relatively wealthy. When his father died in 1748, John was sent to live in Leith, the harbour area of Edinburgh, with some of her relatives, who treated him very badly. At age 13 he returned to Dalkeith where he was apprenticed to George Heriot, a barber in the town, whom he served for six years.In 1761 he went to Edinburgh, where he served 7 years as a journeyman but not being an Edinburgh citizen had to purchase the freedom to trade as a barber from the Society of Surgeon-Barbers, which he eventually did in December 1771 at age 29, on payment of £40. He then set up business on the High Street in Edinburgh. He had various high-ranking clients and made friends with several, notably William Nisbet of Dirleton who became a constant companion.In 1784 he began engraving his drawings and published his first caricature: James Robertson of Kincraigie, "the daft highland laird". In 1785, induced by the favour which greeted certain attempts of his to etch in aquafortis, he took down his barber's pole and opened a small print shop in Parliament Close. There he continued to flourish, painting miniatures, and publishing at short intervals his sketches and caricatures of local celebrities and oddities, who abounded at that period in Edinburgh society. From 1785 he abandoned his business as barber to concentrate on drawing. This was facilitated by annuities paid to him by Sir Henry Jardine and the estate of William Nisbet.Kay's portraits were collected by Hugh Paton and published under the title A series of original portraits and caricature etchings by the late John Kay, with biographical sketches and illustrative anecdotes (Edinburgh, 2 vols. 4to, 1838; 8vo ed., 4 vols., 1842; new 4to ed., with additional plates, 2 vols., 1877), forming a unique record of the social life and popular habits of Edinburgh at its most interesting epoch. Kay's famous shop on the Royal Mile was destroyed during the Great Edinburgh Fire of November 1824.He died at 227 High Street in Edinburgh and was buried at the north-west corner of Greyfriars Kirkyard. The British Museum has extensive holdings of his works, including two albums apparently assembled by Kay, both described in the Catalogue of Political and Personal Satires Preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum. In 1762 he married Lilly Steven by whom he had ten children all of which died young except for one son, William Kay. Lilly died in 1785 and in 1787 Kay married Margaret Scott (d.1835).

Price: 55 GBP

Location: Leyburn

End Time: 2024-09-11T09:47:37.000Z

Shipping Cost: 40.23 GBP