Robert Dighton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Dighton
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Etching from a self-portrait, circa 1787
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| Born | 1752  London |
| Died | 1814 (aged 61–62) London |
| Occupation | Caricaturist, painter, printmaker |
| Children | Richard Dighton, Denis Dighton, Robert Dighton |
Robert Dighton (around 1752 – 1814) was an English artist. He was known for painting portraits, making prints, and drawing funny pictures called caricatures. Robert Dighton started a family of artists, and his children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps.
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Robert Dighton's Artistic Journey
Robert Dighton was the son of John Dighton, who sold prints in London. In the 1770s, Robert started acting and singing in plays. He performed at famous places like the Haymarket Theatre and Sadler's Wells Theatre. At the same time, he was also training to be an artist. He studied at the Royal Academy and showed his art there. He also showed his work at the Free Society of Artists.
His first drawings for prints were of actors. These were used in a special edition of Shakespeare's plays published by John Bell.
Becoming a Caricaturist
Robert Dighton got his first steady job from a publisher named Carington Bowles. This was a time when funny prints called 'droll mezzotints' were very popular. Robert would draw pictures in watercolor, and then they would be engraved into prints. Carington Bowles also sold maps, which is why Dighton made funny map drawings. These were part of his "Geography Bewitched" series, which included maps of Ireland, England, and Scotland.
At first, many of Dighton's artworks didn't have his name on them. But by the early 1790s, his art became famous. He started making and selling his own prints with his name on them.
Dighton's funny drawings, called caricatures, showed people in silly poses with red faces. He drew lawyers, military officers, actors, and actresses. He also drew everyday people. In 1795, he released a book called Book of Heads. After that, he mostly focused on making caricatures. His work was known for being less harsh than other artists like James Gilray and George Cruikshank.
A Change of Scenery
By the early 1800s, Robert Dighton was successful enough to open his own shop in Charing Cross, London. He sold his own prints and prints by other artists there.
In 1806, it was found that some of the prints he was selling had been taken from the the British Museum. Dighton had become friends with a museum official by drawing pictures of him and his daughter. He used this friendship to take prints from the museum, hiding them in his art portfolio.
Because he cooperated with the authorities, Dighton was not put in prison. However, he had to leave London for a while. He went to Oxford, where he drew funny pictures of university professors and country gentlemen. He also drew in Bath and Cambridge. In 1810, he returned to London and reopened his studio. He worked there with his sons until he passed away in 1814.
The Dighton Family of Artists
Robert Dighton started a family tradition of art. Many of his children and grandchildren became artists too.
- Robert junior (1786–1865) made prints of military people between 1800 and 1809. Later, he joined the military as a career.
- Denis (1792–1827) also started in the military. Then he trained as an artist, focusing on military subjects.
- Richard (around 1796–1880) learned from his father. He continued his father's art business from 1815. Later, he moved to Cheltenham and Worcester.
- Richard Dighton junior (1824–1891) was Richard's older son. He became a photographer and had a studio in Cheltenham.
- Joshua Dighton (1831–1908) was Richard's second son. He was born in Worcester and was famous for his portraits of jockeys. He worked in London as a portrait painter and photographer.
