Copley's Watson and the Shark

John Singleton Copley born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1738 was considered one of the greatest American masters at his death in 1815 and is to this day. Copley studied with his stepfather, Peter Pelham, and frequented the studios of John Smibert and Robert Feke. By the age of twenty, Copley was considered to be a successful portrait painter with a mature style full of brilliance and clarity. He practiced in New York City, Philadelphia, and his hometown …

…readily peered by the paintings of the Grand Manner and romanticism styles of the Federal Period. John Singleton Copley displays his education well in this painting. His portrayal of the shark is rather accurate, indicating that Copley studied the biological sciences and the anatomical make-up of sharks, an animal not found near any of his homes. Copley succeeded undeniably in rendering Watson's tale of the sea and capturing the attention and sympathy of his audience.