Voltaire, the French philosopher and Mr. Watson, an Edinburgh messenger
John Kay British, Scottish
Sitter François-Marie Arouet French
Not on view
Kay's quirky image presents us with two male heads reflected in a pair of dark spectacles atop a wearer's nose. Members of his Edinburgh community asserted that Watson, a local messanger, strongly resembled Voltaire, so the artist decided to put that proposition to the test. At right he portrays Watson in profile, facing the famous French philosopher at left–the latter's image copied from "a portrait miniature on the lide of a snuff box belonging to John Davidson." The viewer is left to judge.
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