John Singleton Copley Self-PortraitJohn Singleton Copley · 1784
Acrylic On Canvas- WallArt
- Neoclassicism
1784
56.0 x 56.0 cm
National Portrait Gallery
John Adams once proclaimed John Singleton Copley to be “the greatest Master, that ever was in America.” As a teenager, Copley was already satisfying Bostonians’ desire for realistic portraits. By the time he was twenty, he had grown frustrated by the limitations of his provincial environment, where, he complained, art was regarded as “no more than any other useful trade.” Copley longed to visit Europe to study great works of art and escape the political turmoil at home. His father-in-law was among the merchants whose tea was dumped in Boston Harbor during the Tea Party of December 1773. Many other family members were loyalists who opposed the growing demand for American independence, as were clients such as Andrew Oliver (whose portrait by Copley is dis-played nearby). In June 1774, Copley departed for England where, in the flush of new success, he painted this self-por-trait. He never returned to the United States.
John Singleton Copley (1738 – 1815)
A pioneer of Anglo-American portraiture and historical scenes. Explore his masterful works today.
National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C., United States of America)
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About this artwork
- Title: John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait
- Artist: John Singleton Copley
- Year: 1784
- Original dimensions: 56.0 x 56.0 cm
- Format: Square
- Copyright status: Public domain
- Where to see it: National Portrait Gallery
- Medium: Acrylic On Canvas
- Corpus context: boston identity, european tradition
- Purpose: Accent
Questions & Answers
What style does "John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait" belong to?
"John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait" by John Singleton Copley belongs to the Neoclassicism movement. This movement provides the stylistic context of the work.
How is "John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait" recommended to be printed - what size, what orientation?
For "John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait", the recommended print setup is a large size and a square orientation.
What is "John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait" made with?
"John Singleton Copley Self-Portrait" is executed in acrylic on canvas.