Caricature Antique John Kay Edinburgh "Earl of Moira-Addressing the Loyal Edinburgh Spearmen" 1803

Antique Aquatint etching by John Kay for “Kays Edinburgh Portraits” Published Edinburgh 1803

 John Kay (1742-1826) was an apprenticed barber at 13, in 1771 managed to obtained the freedom to the city of Edinburgh when he joined the corporation of the barber-surgeons. In 1784 he published his first caricature and in the following year he opened a small print shop in the Royal Mile. He flourished with his sketches, and eventually published caricatures of local characters and odd folk that emerged from the Scottish Age of Enlightenment.

Obviously a man of distinction, Francis, the 2^nd Earl of Moira, Commander-In-Chief of the Forces in Scotland,Afterwards Francis Edward Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings. Known as The Earl of Moira between 1793 and 1816, was an Anglo-Irish British politician and military officer who served as Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823. He had also served with British forces for years during the American Revolution and in 1794 during the French Revolution.

 Condition = Excellent. Printed on Flax/Hemp wove paper.

Size of paper = 19.6 x 25.8cm / Platemark = 9.5 x 13.5cm (3 2/3 x 5 1/3 inches)