The artwork titled “Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers,” created by the renowned artist John Singleton Copley circa 1763, is an oil on canvas painting belonging to the Neoclassicism movement. The dimensions of the artwork are approximately 100.97 by 126.68 centimeters, and it is a portrait genre painting.
In the artwork, the viewer is presented with an elegant female figure, presumably Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers, seated in a relaxed yet dignified pose. Her attire denotes affluence and fashion of the period, with a lavish gown accented with gold and a deep red shawl elegantly draped around her. The luxurious fabric of her dress shimmers under the depicted light, indicating Copley’s expertise in rendering textures and materials. A rose embellishes her décolletage, adding a touch of nature’s beauty to the composition.
Beside her is a small canine companion, a symbolic addition that may allude to fidelity or status, or perhaps simply a cherished pet. The dog rests comfortably in her lap, reflecting an air of domestic tranquility and comfort. The backdrop of the composition features a subdued landscape, a common motif in portraiture of the era, which serves to emphasize the subject’s connection to nature and her serene environment.
Copley’s brushwork and compositional strategy in this painting are characteristic of the Neoclassical style, with a clear emphasis on poise, grace, and balanced proportions, as well as a harmonious blend of lifelike representation and idealized beauty. His ability to capture the essence of his subject’s personality and status through portraiture has contributed greatly to his reputation as one of the preeminent American painters of the 18th century.
