The pre-eminent portraitist of colonial America, John Singleton Copley was also one of the nation’s most prolific artists. While he occasionally painted politicians and public figures, the majority of his sitters were merchants and members of the gentry. Copley was at the height of his success in this country in the early 1770s when he completed this elegant portrait of Boston distillery owner Thomas Amory II.
Copley was well known for portraying his subjects in lavish costumes and elegant surroundings. In this painting, however, he presents Amory in an understated brown coat and waistcoat, leaning comfortably on a lighter brown, heavy stone column before a similarly colored unarticulated background. The artist’s nearly monochromatic palette contributes to the portrait’s overall subtlety and refinement. At the same time, Copley enlivens the composition through a diagonal line of bright details: Amory’s head, face, white shirt, and one ungloved hand are dramatically illuminated, a play of light Copley continues down the gold-capped, honey-colored walking stick. Amory’s bright eyes, lending a kind air to his wise and dignified countenance, gaze to the right. Taken together, these details lend a sense of narrative to the quiet portrait, suggesting that the merchant has paused during one of the walks he regularly enjoyed along the streets of Boston.