Caricature John Kay Edinburgh "Ensign Macdougal of the Hopetoun Fencibles" Aquatint

Antique Aquatint etching by John Kay for “Kays Edinburgh Portraits” Published Edinburgh c.1795

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.

Young Ensign Macdougal was so youthful in appearance that Edinburgh used to cry, "There goes the Sucking Officer!" Eventually he grew to be over 6 feet tall and many considered him to be the most handsome soldier in the British Army. In time he resigned his commission in the Fencibles and joined the 30th Foot, then serving in Ireland. While in Ireland he was tempted by a young lady who tricked him into marriage. This was to end badly as both took to the "evil drink"

Condition = Excellent printed on flax & hemp wove paper. Paper has slight corrugation caused by original print technique.

Size of paper = 196mm x 258mm / Platemark = 75mm x 125mm