Art Captions

Author notes

0020. Mrs. John Amory

CornTown

on Feb. 9, 2010

Send a private quack!
By John Singleton Copley (1738-1815)
Circa. 1763
Classical Portraiture

Though Copley did not paint for any kings, he is often considered the official artist of colonial and early America. Originally self-taught, Copley began professional portrait paintings when he was merely fourteen years old, and continued painting without any academic training until reaching his thirties. Copley would go onto paint many of America's founding fathers including John Hancock, Adams and Quincy Adams. Though known as an America painter, Copley was forced to leave America as he and his wife were both loyalist to King George III of Britain. In Europe, Copley studied the old masters and was able to continue his life as a prominent painter. Unfortunately, with the Napoleonic wars, Copley fell out of favor and into debt. He died in 1815 right as peace was coming between Britain and the United States.