Catherine Read
A Life Painted in Pastel and Grace Born into the windswept landscapes of Dundee, Scotland, in 1723, Catherine Read emerged as one of the most refined portraitists of the eighteenth century. Her life was a tapestry woven with threads of political intrigue, international travel, and artistic brilliance. As the daughter of an affluent Forfarshire family, her early years were shaped by the turbulent tides of the Jacobite rising. When the…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Catherine Read's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Catherine Read's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.