Portraits by john singleton. As he looked around the room, you can think back to the words of john adams, who said, when you see his portrait, you just want to discourse with them, as the questions, and receive answers. Men show you of these substantial, realistic figures. You have a sense that they have in auccessful lives, and good place. His paintings of women are sometimes so ravishingly beautiful in their attention to fabric, texture, and the beauty this portrait. This was painted in 1763. Look at the beauty of the fabric, the garlands of flowers, the lace leaves on her dress. You can see his training in fine details. There is an interesting story to this woman. Veryas married to a very, wealthy man from the stripping shipping industry. They had a home in newport. He was very active in political affairs. In 1763, he would have accumulated so much wealth that they retired to their Country Estate in new hampshire, where there were 70 acres, of 11 of to greenhouses and flowers. They
Gift to the American People from asrew mellon who served treasury secretary until 1932. Up next week visit the museum to learn about early american portrait painting and work of John Singleton copley. Dianne hello. We are standing in a room full of portraits i John Singleton copley, americas most important colonial portrait painter. I think as a look around the you can think back to the words of john adams 1817 who said when you see his portraits, you want a discourse with him, you want to asking questions and want toanswers you ask him questions and receive answers. In the early part of the 18th century, american early painters made ambitious but tentative efforts to capture the likeness of people on canvas because portraiture was really the only way to do that. It was the most type the most important type of painting in the colonies. There was a great flourishing of activity with johnson will copley that became with John Singleton copley. Are two of the first highlevel portrait paint
National galleria of art was a gift to the American People from financier Andrew Mellon who served as treasury secretary until 1932. Up next, we visit the museum to learn about early american portrait painting and the work of John Singleton copley. Dianne hello. I am dianne stevens. We are standing in a room full of portraits by John Singleton copley, americas most important colonial portrait painter. I think as we look around the room, you can think back to the words of john adams, 1817, who said when you see his portraits, you want a discourse with him. You want to ask him questions and receive answers. Let me give you some background. In the early part of the 18th century, early american painters without much background and training made ambitious but tentative efforts to capture likenesses on canvas because portraiture was really the only way to do that. It was the most important type of painting in the colonies. There was a great flourishing of activity that became elevated to a l
The british soldier and british commander of the area. He wrote to him offering intelligence in exchange for protection from the soldiers for some cash. This was not discovered until the 20th century when clintons papers went to the Clements Library in ann arbor and this correspondence was discovered. So it doesnt look like he got much assistance, much protection, or much cash because his circumstances were considerably reduced after the war. He and his wife moved to providence where they set up a shop. He became a shopkeeper and they had a boardinghouse. So the question is, did ann know about his traitorous activities . We dont know, but it doesnt take away from this beautiful portrait of this very young, very confident, selfassured looking young woman with her beautiful garland of flowers and her beautiful lace sleeves. Another portrait in this room of a woman by copley is this one of Abigail Smith babcock, the wife of another wealthy merchant, who was not a spy. He was a patriot, an
Massachusetts merchant and political figure. He was 82 when this was painted. Copleys shown him just as he was. Youll notice the way hes painted the face and the hands is a little different. This is 12 years later. Copleys changed his technique, so the hands are painted with al little bit more fluid paint and in the face as well. Its easier to show the details, so copley is changing and developing as he goes along through his career in boston. Il so copleys portraits of men po show you these very substantial realistic figures that look ial comfortable in their setting an you have a sense that they had, these two men especially, that , theyve had successful lives and theyre in a good place. His paintings of women sometimee are just so ravishingly beautiful in their attention to fabric and texture and the o beauty of the skin, like this portrait of Anne Fairchild bowler. Ms. Metcalfe bowler. This was painted in 1763, so about the same time he was proac painting epes sergeant, but its a t