Art

Art

The Copley Family
Oil canvas, 1776/1777
By John Singleton Copley
John Singleton Copley, the primary artist in colonial America, was practically self-taught as a portraitist. By carefully recording details, he created powerful characterizations of his Boston sitters. After he immigrated to London in 1774, Copley began to concentrate in narrative scenes from history and joined the influential artistic institution, the Royal Academy of Art. Copley demonstrated brilliance, in both his American and British periods, for representation surface textures and capturing emotional immediacy. When I went to National Gallery of Art, The Copley Family’s painting was hanging two blocks away in the middle of the entrance. At first, I just glanced at it, and then I was walking away to see more paintings. But while I was walking to see more paintings, most of the paintings are self-portrait. Then I came back, this time I was really concentrated very well on the image. Then I realized there was an artist who is Copley in the painting. I was very amazed how did he include himself in the painting, which is rarely to find in other paintings.   He included not only himself but also his family who are sitting on the sofa, probably, in the living room. He wants to tell the viewers that he wouldn’t have succeed if he hadn’t had his family. I have heard that Copley was one of a good artist who painted portrait to include more than two sitters. To begin with, I would like to introduce all figures in the painting:   Copley, the artist, is sitting behind his father in law, and his wife and four lovely children are sitting on couch.   I am very interested, appreciated, and valued this painting for three main reasons.
My first main reason is the narrative in the painting. At first it is unclear who is the subject, since the artist, himself, is staring out from behind a canvas, brush in hand. Then I realized that he is an artist. This image shows the personal expression.   For example, artist...