1738–1815

John Singleton Copley

John Singleton Copley was born in Boston and was largely self-taught. He became the leading portraitist of colonial New England, painting merchants and patriots, including Paul Revere around 1768. In 1774 he left for Europe and settled in London, where he was elected to the Royal Academy. There he turned to dramatic modern history paintings such as Watson and the Shark (1778) and The Death of Major Peirson. He died in London in 1815.

Where to see John Singleton Copley: Art Institute of Chicago (5 works); The Metropolitan Museum of Art (5 works); National Gallery of Art (10 works); National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian (3 works).

Public-domain works: Daniel Hubbard, 1764; Joseph Gerrish, 1770; Robert Hyde, Squire of Hyde, 1778; Mrs. John Winthrop, 1773; Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers, ca. 1763; The Copley Family, 1776/1777; Baron Graham, 1804; Epes Sargent, c. 1760; Adam Babcock, c. 1774; Abigail Smith Babcock (Mrs. Adam Babcock), c. 1774; Jane Browne, 1756; Henry Laurens, 1782; Andrew Oliver, c. 1758; Daniel Crommelin Verplanck, 1771; Mrs. Daniel Hubbard (Mary Greene), c. 1764; Mrs. Henry Hill (Anna Barrett), c. 1765–70; Midshipman Augustus Brine, 1782; Joseph Sherburne, ca. 1767–70; Colonel William Fitch and His Sisters Sarah and Ann Fitch, 1800/1801; Anne Fairchild Bowler (Mrs. Metcalf Bowler), c. 1763; Thomas Amory II, c. 1770-1772; Elizabeth Gray Otis (Mrs. Samuel Alleyne Otis), c. 1764; John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait, c. 1780-84.