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Thomas Paine

John Kay

A satirical etching of Thomas Paine made during his lifetime by Edinburgh caricaturist John Kay, showing how controversial he was in Scotland.

A lifetime satirical portrait of Paine, showing his notoriety as a public figure in Britain.

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Etching portrait of a man with curly hair, wearing a dark coat with a high collar and an open shirt, slight smile, looking toward the viewer. The caption below reads 'THOMAS PAINE'.
John Kay, Thomas Paine, etching, 18th century.

About this source

What it is

This is a lifetime etching portrait of Thomas Paine, made by the Scottish caricaturist John Kay. It shows a man with curly hair, a dark high-collared coat and an open shirt, looking out at the viewer, with the caption 'THOMAS PAINE' below.

Why it matters

John Kay was known for satirical prints of well-known people in Edinburgh. That he chose to etch Paine shows how famous — and controversial — Paine's political writings had made him even far from America and France, including in Scotland.

Look closer

  • What does the slight smile and direct gaze suggest about how Kay wanted viewers to see Paine?
  • Why might a satirical artist have chosen to depict a political radical like Paine?
  • What does this print leave out about Paine's actual ideas or writings?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Paine on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Thomas Paine sources

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Title page of the 1776 Philadelphia pamphlet Common Sense, addressed to the Inhabitants of America, printed by R. Bell in Third Street. Handwritten annotations include a name in the top corner and Thomas Paine's name near the bottom.Book

Primary source

Common Sense

Thomas Paine · 10 January 1776

Photograph of the first page of a printed 1776 pamphlet titled The American Crisis, Number I, by Thomas Paine, with handwritten annotations at the top reading 'by Thomas Paine' and 'published in the Penn. Journal' and 'June 1776'. The printed text begins 'These are the times that try men's souls.'Book

Primary source

The American Crisis

Thomas Paine · 1776-1783

Title page of Rights of Man, reading 'Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution, by Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Congress in the American War, and Author of the Work Intitled Common Sense. London: Printed for J. S. Jordan, No. 166, Fleet-Street. MDCCXCI.' Handwritten ink marks appear in the upper right corner.Book

Primary source

Rights of Man

Thomas Paine · 1791-1792

Title page of The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine. Text reads: 'The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology. By Thomas Paine, Secretary for Foreign Affairs to Congress in the American War, and author of the works entitled Common Sense, and Rights of Man, &c. Paris: Printed by Barrois. London: Sold by D. I. Eaton, at the Cock and Swine, No. 74, Newgate-street. 1794. Price two shillings.'Book

Primary source

The Age of Reason

Thomas Paine · 1794-1807

Scan of the engrossed Declaration of Independence on aged parchment. Heading reads 'In Congress, July 4, 1776' with the title 'The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America' below. Dense handwritten text fills the page; signatures appear at the bottom.Document

Primary source

Declaration of Independence

Continental Congress (drafted by Thomas Jefferson) · 1776

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