The artwork titled “John Hancock,” painted by John Singleton Copley circa 1771 to 1773, is an oil-on-canvas portrait created within the Neoclassical art movement. The portrait measures 63.7 x 76.3 cm and is located at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
In the artwork, the sitter is depicted in a formal pose, gazing confidently outwards. The background is dark and unadorned, which significantly highlights the subject’s features and elaborate attire. The individual is dressed in a richly detailed garment embellished with gold embroidery, suggesting high status and wealth. The use of light and shadow in the painting is adeptly managed, emphasizing the facial expressions and the textures of the clothing. The dignified expression and refined attire portrayed in the artwork convey a sense of authority and prominence, typical of the Neoclassical style that strives to depict classical ideals of beauty and virtue.
