Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers
Original title: Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers
kurzbeschreibung
John Singleton Copley painted Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers around 1763 in oil on canvas. She sits in a silver-toned dress with a red wrap, a small dog held in her arm. The portrait is regarded as a characteristic example of eighteenth-century American portraiture.
Description
Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers wears a long silver-colored gown with a red, gold-trimmed wrap over it; a rose motif sits at her breast. Her dark hair is gathered in a knot and adorned with a wreath of flowers. Seated on a chair, she holds a small brown-and-white dog in her arms. A natural landscape with trees and a dark sky form the backdrop. Side lighting emphasizes the contours and textures of her garments and surroundings.
Context
Copley made the portrait in Boston, where he worked as the leading portraitist of the colonial period. Mrs. Jerathmael Bowers came from a wealthy New England family. During this phase Copley increasingly looked to English portraiture. The pairing of a pet with a landscape setting follows the conventions of representational portraiture of the time.
Impact
The sitter's calm posture and direct gaze give the image dignity and restraint. The silvery dress and red wrap create a noble but muted color effect. The landscape behind provides atmospheric depth.
Technique
Copley painted in oil on canvas in fine, smooth layers. The precise rendering of fabric textures and the soft modeling of the face demonstrate his mastery of glazing. At roughly 127 x 101 cm, the picture corresponds to a representative knee-length format.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)