Harrison GrayJohn Singleton Copley · 1767

Identification of Harrison Gray by John Singleton Copley

This oil painting, titled Harrison Gray, was executed by the American painter John Singleton Copley. The work dates to c. 1767. Copley, who lived from 1738 to 1815, produced this portrait during a period when he had established himself as a prominent figure in the colonial art scene. The subject of the work is Harrison Gray, depicted in a seated or standing posture that emphasizes his social presence.

The portrait captures the sitter with a focus on specific material textures and personal attributes. Harrison Gray is shown with white hair styled in a wig, wearing a brown suit. He holds a book or a piece of paper in his hand while directing his gaze toward the viewer. His facial features include a mustache and a slight smile. The background contains a green curtain and a chair positioned to the left of the figure, providing a structured setting for the subject.

The Composition and Visual Details

The sitter is positioned in a three-quarter view, facing the viewer with a slight smile. He possesses white hair styled under a wig and a visible mustache. He is dressed in a brown suit. In his hand, he holds a book or a piece of paper. His gaze is directed toward the viewer.

The background is composed of a green curtain that provides a sense of depth to the scene. On the left side of the image, a chair is visible. The lighting emphasizes the textures of the clothing and the facial features of the man.

Provenance and Ownership History

The ownership of this portrait follows a direct lineage from the sitter through several generations of the Otis family. The probable sequence of ownership began with the sitter himself, passing to his daughter, Elizabeth Gray Otis. From her, the work was inherited by her son, Harrison Gray Otis [1765-1848]. This familial chain continued through subsequent descendants, including William Alleyne Otis and Robert Helyer Thayer, before the painting entered institutional hands.

During the early twentieth century, the painting was held by Robert H. Gardiner, Robert H. Gardiner, Jr., and William Tudor Gardiner between 1917 and 1926. Following this period, the work was part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. On 22 June 1949, the painting was delivered to Thayer by the Museum of Fine Arts.

Related Works by John Singleton Copley

The artist's output includes several portraits that document the social and familial structures of the period. In 1770, he produced Lemuel Cox, a work held in the Baltimore Museum of Art. Following this, he painted Mrs John Winthrop in 1773, which is currently part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. These works demonstrate his technical approach to capturing specific individuals and their social standing through precise rendering of features and attire.

Copley also engaged with more complex compositions and historical themes. His work The Return of Neptune represents an early attempt to move beyond simple likenesses by utilizing compositions reminiscent of Old Masters. Later, in 1776, he painted The Copley Family, a work that uses carefully choreographed settings and objects to establish a specific social identity for the subjects.

• Lemuel Cox, 1770
• Mrs John Winthrop, 1773
• The Return of Neptune
• The Copley Family, 1776

Where to See This Artwork Today

This painting is held within the collection of the National Gallery of Art. It is located in Washington, DC. The work entered the museum's permanent holdings through a gift in 1976.

Visitors to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, can find this work as part of the institution's official collection. The piece was acquired by the NGA in 1976.