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A Boston-born portrait and history painter who settled in London in 1775 after a tour of the Continent. A successful artist, Copley is known mostly for his portraits of British characters associated with colonial New England and large-scale depictions of dramatic contemporary events such as The Death of Chatham.Described by Copley's son, Lord Lyndhurst, as the 'best and most agreeable likeness of [my father] ever produced', this oval portrait of the artist by the American-born painter, Gilbert Stuart was commissioned by the publisher, Josiah Boydell in 1783. The portrait was destined for Boydell's new gallery at 90 Cheapside in the City of London. There it was displayed with another fourteen portraits of contemporary painters and engravers connected with Boydell's firm.

National Portrait Gallery, London

London

Title

John Singleton Copley

Date

1783–1784

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 67.3 x W 56.5 cm

Accession number

2143

Acquisition method

Bequeathed by Lady Lyndhurst, 1927

Work type

Painting

National Portrait Gallery, London

St Martin’s Place, London, Greater London WC2H 0HE England

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Artist or maker

Gilbert Stuart

1755–1828

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Portrait of an Unknown Man The Fitzwilliam Museum
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