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Meet the 1 Most Famous Paintings by John Kay
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 1 works by John Kay in our catalogue
In short
If you know one John Kay painting, it's probably John Kay, 1742 - 1826. Caricaturist (Self-portrait) (1786), which hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. Our catalogue has 1 works by John Kay. Below are the 1 people know best, each with its year, where to find it and what makes it special.
1742 – 1826, Dalkeith
Most works: Scottish National Portrait Gallery
Start here: the top 10 John Kay paintings
Where you can see John Kay's paintings
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by John Kay | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Scottish National Portrait Gallery |
Edinburgh | 1 | John Kay, 1742 - 1826. Caricaturist (Self-portrait) |
John Kay year by year: the standout pieces
Every dated piece by John Kay on this page comes from a single year, 1786. Here they are.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its pieces.
Your questions about John Kay's paintings
Which John Kay painting is the most famous?See the answer
Top of the list is John Kay, 1742 - 1826. Caricaturist (Self-portrait) (1786).
How old was John Kay when John Kay, 1742 - 1826. Caricaturist (Self-portrait) was made?See the answer
44 years old. John Kay was born in 1742, and John Kay, 1742 - 1826. Caricaturist (Self-portrait) dates from 1786.
How many paintings did John Kay create?See the answer
We have 1 works by John Kay in our catalogue.
Where can you see John Kay's famous paintings?See the answer
You'll find most of them in Scottish National Portrait Gallery (Edinburgh). The museum list above has the full breakdown.
Can I get a reproduction of a John Kay painting?See the answer
Yes. Every painting on this page is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction or a print, in the size that suits you. Just open the painting's page to order.
Getting to know John Kay
The Life and Art of John Kay
Born in Dalkeith, United Kingdom, John Kay was a Scottish caricaturist, engraver, miniaturist, and printmaker. His early life was marked by significant transitions, moving from Dalkeith to Leith, and later returning to Dalkeith to serve a six-year apprenticeship under a barber named George Heriot. By 1761, he had moved to Edinburgh, where he eventually purchased his freedom to trade as a barber from the Society of Surgeon-Barbers in 1771. After establishing a business on the High Street, he began to focus more heavily on his artistic pursuits. In 1784, he published his first caricature, and by 1785, he had opened a small print shop in Parliament Close, having abandoned his barbering business to concentrate on drawing.
Artistic Legacy and Subjects
Kay’s work provides a unique record of the social life and habits of Edinburgh during a significant epoch. His sketches and caricatures captured local celebrities and oddities, including figures such as:
His portraits were later published in volumes titled A Series of Original Portraits and Caricature Etchings by the Late John Kay. While his shop on the Royal Mile was destroyed during the Great Edinburgh Fire of 1824, his works remain preserved, with extensive holdings located in the British Museum.