A to Z of artists Dighton, Robert 1752 - 1814

The son of a London tradesman, Dighton exhibited small portrait drawings at the Society of Artists between 1769 and 1774, entering the Royal Academy Schools in 1770. As well as providing the print publisher Carrington Bowles with caricatures and humorous subjects he was, at times, actor, dramatic writer and singer. Perhaps known most as a caricaturist, his invective was far milder that that of his predecessor, James Gillray (q.v.), in whose footsteps it is often said he followed. Dighton also learnt etching, producing a series of small portraits without malice or much caricature of the influential people of his day. Unfortunately his talents included those of a thief since between 1795 and 1806 he regularly substituted some of his own work for that of better artists represented in the Print Room of the British Museum. Despite being apprehended, he continued drawing his delightful figurative scenes and caricatures until his death at Spring Gardens, London in 1814, aged sixty-two.