In this portrait Kay himself is before the law. In 1792 he had published two etchings satirising a 7 mile walking race between a baker, Edward Innes and a lawyer, Hamilton Bell, the latter carrying a tavern waiting-boy on his back. Though the winner, Bell took offence and began legal proceedings prohibiting publication. They were dropped when Kay satisfied the sheriff that his prints showed nothing but the truth. Kay retaliated by publishing 'Examination'. It represents him standing before the sheriff, and his prosecutors, Bell and his friend John Rae, goggle-eyed with rage.

print 

 

housed in a fine maple frame

 

29 x 34 cm 

 

John Kay

(1742-1826), Miniature painter and caricaturist

The son of a mason, Kay was apprenticed at the age of thirteen to George Heriot, a barber in Dalkeith. Six years later, he moved to Edinburgh where he continued to work as a barber. In his spare time, he began to produce highly original portrait sketches and caricatures of Edinburgh characters, despite having received no formal training. Kay attracted the patronage of William Nisbet of Dirleton, who settled an annuity upon him, and in 1785 he was finally able to give up his trade for art. From 1784 to 1822, he etched nearly nine hundred plates portraying many notable Scotsmen of the day. Many of his satirical prints were bought by his subjects themselves with the express purpose of destroying them.