Catherine Read
Encyclopedia
Catherine Read (1723—1778), was a Scottish
portrait-painter
. Her uncle was John Wedderburn of Blackness, whose daughters were cared for by Read after his execution.
Read was for some years a fashionable artist in London
, working in oils
, crayons
, and miniature. From 1760 she exhibited almost annually with either the Society of Artists
, the Free Society, or the Royal Academy
, sending chiefly portraits of ladies and children of the aristocracy, which she painted with much grace and refinement.
Read's talent for portraiture was highly regarded in her day, and was the subject of an epistle
by Tobias Smollett
,
and praised by William Hayley
.
Miss Read resided in St. James's Place, London until 1766, when she removed to Jermyn Street
. In 1771 she went to India
with her niece, Helena Beatson, a clever young artist, who there married, in 1777, (Sir) Charles Oakeley, bart., governor of Madras. She is reported as being in that country in 1775 and 1777, and as dying at sea near Madras.
Her death is recorded as 15 Dec. 1778.
, and in 1765 one of the latter with his brother, Prince Frederick
.
On resuming her practice, Miss Read settled in Welbeck Street
. Many of her portraits were well engraved by Valentine Green
and James Watson, and a pair of plates, by J. Finlayson, of the celebrated Gunning sisters, the Duchess of Argyll and the Countess of Coventry
, remained popular.
Some works by Read have at one time been attributed to Joshua Reynolds
. A portrait of Lady Georgiana Spencer has been noted as one of her finest.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
portrait-painter
Life
Read was born in Scotland, on the 3rd of February, 1723, one of thirteen children of an affluent Forfarshire family. She may have received her education in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Her uncle was John Wedderburn of Blackness, whose daughters were cared for by Read after his execution.
Read was for some years a fashionable artist in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, working in oils
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
, crayons
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
, and miniature. From 1760 she exhibited almost annually with either the Society of Artists
Society of Artists
The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons....
, the Free Society, or the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, sending chiefly portraits of ladies and children of the aristocracy, which she painted with much grace and refinement.
Read's talent for portraiture was highly regarded in her day, and was the subject of an epistle
Epistle
An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians...
by Tobias Smollett
Tobias Smollett
Tobias George Smollett was a Scottish poet and author. He was best known for his picaresque novels, such as The Adventures of Roderick Random and The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle , which influenced later novelists such as Charles Dickens.-Life:Smollett was born at Dalquhurn, now part of Renton,...
,
"Let candid Justice our attention lead,
to the soft crayon of the graceful Read.
and praised by William Hayley
William Hayley
William Hayley was an English writer, best known as the friend and biographer of William Cowper.-Biography:...
.
Miss Read resided in St. James's Place, London until 1766, when she removed to Jermyn Street
Jermyn Street
Jermyn Street is a street in the City of Westminster, central London, to the south, parallel and adjacent to Piccadilly.It is well known as a street where the shops are almost exclusively aimed at the Gentleman's market and is famous for its resident shirtmakers Jermyn Street is a street in the...
. In 1771 she went to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
with her niece, Helena Beatson, a clever young artist, who there married, in 1777, (Sir) Charles Oakeley, bart., governor of Madras. She is reported as being in that country in 1775 and 1777, and as dying at sea near Madras.
Her death is recorded as 15 Dec. 1778.
Works
In 1763 she exhibited a portrait of Queen Charlotte with the infant Prince of WalesGeorge IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
, and in 1765 one of the latter with his brother, Prince Frederick
Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex
The Prince Augustus Frederick, Duke of Sussex , was the sixth son of George III of the United Kingdom and his consort, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was the only surviving son of George III who did not pursue an army or naval career.- Early life :His Royal Highness The Prince Augustus...
.
On resuming her practice, Miss Read settled in Welbeck Street
Welbeck Street
Welbeck Street is a street in the West End, central London, England. It has historically been associated with the medical profession.- Location :...
. Many of her portraits were well engraved by Valentine Green
Valentine Green
Valentine Green was a British engraver.-Biography:Born in Salford Priors, he was placed by his father in a solicitor's office at Evesham, where he remained for two years; but ultimately he decided, on his own responsibility, to abandon the legal profession and became a pupil of a line engraver at...
and James Watson, and a pair of plates, by J. Finlayson, of the celebrated Gunning sisters, the Duchess of Argyll and the Countess of Coventry
Maria Coventry, Countess of Coventry
Maria Coventry, Countess of Coventry was a famous London beauty and society hostess during the reign of King George II.- Life :...
, remained popular.
Some works by Read have at one time been attributed to Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
. A portrait of Lady Georgiana Spencer has been noted as one of her finest.
Further reading
- Sparrow, Walter Shaw. Women painters of the world etc (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1905) pp. 61 & 84. 3 portraits by Catherine Read.
- Graves, Algernon. The Society of Artists of Great Britain, 1760-1791, the Free Society of Artists, 1761-1783: a complete dictionary of contributors and their work from the foundation of the societies to 1791 (George Bell & Sons, 1907) pp. 208-9. A list of works exhibited by Catherine Read at the "Society of Artists" and the "Free Society of Artists".
External links
- Paintings by Catherine Read (Art Renewal Center)
- Portrait of Elizabeth, Duchess of Argyll and Hamilton? (attributed to Catherine Read - Royal CollectionRoyal CollectionThe Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
)