Artist: After Thompson and Dighton
Title: Judge Amphlett
Medium: Watercolour and gum arabic
Dimensions: 8 x 5 3/4 in (20.32 x 14.61 cm)
Condition Report: Overall good condition

Description:
This artwork titled Judge Amphlett is a double portrait featuring Admiral Henry John Rous and Mr. George Payne. The two men, depicted in a close, friendly stance with Admiral Rous holding the arm of Mr. Payne, were well-known for their shared passion for horse racing. The medium of watercolor and gum arabic gives the portrait a soft, detailed finish, typical of the refined technique employed by the artists Thompson and Dighton.

The composition conveys not only the likenesses of the two men but also their close relationship, symbolized by their physical connection in the portrait. The warm, subdued tones used in the watercolor enhance the intimate and friendly atmosphere of the piece, making it a charming representation of the bond between the two figures.

About the Artist:
Robert Dighton (1751–1814), the artist whose work inspired this piece, was a notable portrait painter, printmaker, caricaturist, and performer in 18th-century London. He was the eldest son of London printseller John Dighton and established a reputation for his less savage, yet sharply observant caricatures compared to his contemporaries like James Gillray and George Cruikshank. Dighton studied at the Royal Academy Schools and exhibited his works there as well as with the Free Society of Artists.

Dighton initially gained recognition for his drawings of actors in character for John Bell's edition of Shakespeare and was later credited with creating the genre of colored prints of actors in their favorite roles. His collaboration with the publisher Carington Bowles resulted in a significant number of droll mezzotints, many of which were initially published anonymously. His success in the 1790s led to the publication of his Collection of Portraits of Public Characters and the opening of his own shop in Charing Cross.

Though Dighton had a controversial moment when he was found to have stolen works from the British Museum to sell at his shop, he managed to escape prosecution by cooperating with the investigation. This led him to work in different cities like Oxford, Bath, and Cambridge before eventually returning to London in 1810, where he continued his work until his death in 1814. His legacy is preserved in prestigious collections such as the Royal Collection, the British Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.