Katherine Read

(b. Feb. 3, 1723, Dundee, Scotland – d. Dec. 15, 1778, India )

Gender: F

Katharine Read (1723-1778) was born in Logie, the fifth of thirteen children of Elizabeth Wedderburn and Alexander Read. The family were Jacobite supporters and moved to France after the rebellion of 1745, where Katharine studied in France under a pastellist Marcel Quentin de la Tour; she later studied in Italy for three years. She set up her own studio in London in 1754, and became sought after as a portrait painter, being appointed Painter to the Queen. In 1771 she painted a portrait of Elizabeth Carter for Elizabeth Montagu, which is now in the Dr Johnson House in London. Shortly afterward, she went to India with her niece, Helena Beatson, also an artist, where she died.

Also known as:

Katherine Read

Please note that all dates and location information are provisional, initially taken from the library and archive catalogues. As our section editors continue to work through the material we will update our database and the changes will be reflected across the edition.

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