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John Singleton Copley

1738–1815

The Fountaine Family ?1776
In Tate Britain

Historic and Modern British Art

Biography

John Singleton Copley (July 3, 1738 – September 9, 1815) was an Anglo-American painter, active in both colonial America and England. He was believed to be born in Boston, Province of Massachusetts Bay, to Richard and Mary Singleton Copley, both Anglo-Irish. After becoming well-established as a portrait painter of the wealthy in colonial New England, he moved to London in 1774, never returning to America. In London, he met considerable success as a portraitist for the next two decades, and also painted a number of large history paintings, which were innovative in their readiness to depict modern subjects and modern dress. His later years were less successful, and he died heavily in debt. He was father of John Copley, 1st Baron Lyndhurst and half-brother of Henry Pelham, the American painter, engraver, and cartographer.

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Artworks

Left Right
  • The Death of the Earl of Chatham

    John Singleton Copley
    1779–81
  • The Death of Major Peirson

    John Singleton Copley
    1782–4
    On display at Tate Britain part of Historic and Modern British Art
  • The Siege and Relief of Gibraltar, 13 September 1782; ?replica

    John Singleton Copley
    c.1783
  • Study for ‘The Death of the Earl of Chatham’

    John Singleton Copley
    c.1779
  • Study for ‘The Death of the Earl of Chatham’

    John Singleton Copley
    c.1779
  • Study for ‘The Death of Major Peirson’

    John Singleton Copley
    c.1783
  • Portrait of Mrs Gill

    John Singleton Copley
    ³¦.1770–1
  • The Fountaine Family

    John Singleton Copley
    ?1776

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