John copley biography

Summary of John Singleton Copley

Having almost single-handedly created a vision of what Federal Period art would be, Copley rightfully takes his seat in the pantheon of great American artists.

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The supreme colonial artist, and by common consent the greatest American painter of the eighteenth century, his portraits have become symbols for the US's merchant class and helped mark America's "coming of age" as an independent nation. Having moved to England, he matched his success in America by adding historical painting to his repertoire.

Known as a figure with exquisite artistic and social skills, he became a key figure in the British art scene having been elected into the Royal Academy and receiving royal patronage until the end of his life.

Accomplishments

• Copley's direct approach to characterization presented a challenge to the more romantic contemporary English society portraits from which he took his lead.

  His eye for direct observation gave rise to a series of natural portrai john copley biography3 COZUH