John Singleton Copley (1738-1815) was an American painter who is widely regarded as the finest artist of colonial America. He was born to Richard and Mary Singleton Copley, both Anglo-Irish, on July 3, 1738 in Boston, Massachusetts. His early life and education greatly influenced his career as a portraitist in colonial New England. Later in his career, he moved to London where he achieved great success as a history painter.
Throughout his impressive career spanning over several decades, Copley produced around 350 paintings which have become global masterpieces. He was known for portraying the wealthy people accurately and realistically in his portraits to an unprecedented degree. As a result of this success, he became arguably the most financially successful portraitist in colonial America.
Copley’s fame allowed him to travel frequently between Britain and America before he permanently settled there after the American Revolution began. During that time, Copley moved away from just being a portraitist towards painting historical events scenes. John Singleton Copley left behind numerous works of art that have made him one of the greatest painters of not just colonial American times but also global art history.
In conclusion, John Singleton Copley’s achievements were unique compared to other artists during his time period making him stand out among them. His work has inspired many artists all over North America and Europe which are still highly celebrated till this day thanks to its accuracy and realism standards set forth by John Singleton Copley himself.
All John Singleton Copley Artwork on Artchive
| Artwork Name | Year | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. And Mrs. Thomas Mifflin (sarah Morris) | 1773 | Oil On Ticking |
| Nicholas Boylston | 1767 | Oil On Canvas |
| Watson and the Shark | 1782 | Oil on Canvas |
| Paul Revere | c.1768 - 1770 | Oil on Canvas |
