Richard Dighton (1795-1880)
A View from St John’s College (1809)

Hand coloured engraving
28 x 22 cm

Richard Dighton (1795–1880) was a prominent English artist and caricaturist, best known for his elegant profile portraits of early 19th-century society figures. The son of caricaturist Robert Dighton, he developed a distinctive style that balanced satire with sophistication, moving away from the exaggerated grotesquery of earlier caricatures. His finely drawn etchings and later lithographs and watercolours captured the refined yet often pompous airs of Regency London’s fashionable elite—politicians, lawyers, military men, and dandies alike. With clean lines, elongated forms, and a sharp eye for personality, Dighton’s work offers a witty yet insightful glimpse into the characters of his time. His legacy lived on through his sons, who continued in the family’s artistic tradition.

This hand-coloured engraving is a quintessential example of Dighton’s signature style—capturing character through exaggerated yet elegant profile. The figure, likely an academic or clergyman, is portrayed in full stride, dressed in a long, dark academic gown, white stockings, and buckled shoes. Dighton masterfully exaggerates the man’s posture and expression, giving a sense of motion, personality, and perhaps even a touch of comic solemnity as he emphasises the man’s eccentric presence and stylised mannerisms. The fine line work and subtle water colour washes blur the line, however, between caricature and portraiture, making this not just a humorous rendering, but also a social observation of Cambridge life in the early 19th century.