Sketch for The Copley Family by Copley, John Singleton

Copley, John Singleton · 1776

This intimate family scene, "Sketch for The Copley Family" by John Singleton Copley, painted in 1776, offers a rare glimpse into the artist's process and a private moment from the late 18th century. It is housed in a museum specializing in colonial-era works.

Notice the mother's tender hand on the infant's chest and the arm around the standing child, highlighting the warm domesticity. The loose, painterly brushwork, especially visible in the mother's dress, reveals this work as a preparatory study, not a highly finished portrait.

Copley, an American artist, created this study in 1776 while working in London. It remained in his studio for years, showcasing his method of planning figure placement and lighting before committing to a larger, more detailed family portrait. The faint background figures further emphasize its sketch-like nature.

This painting allows us to witness the early stages of a master at work, capturing emotion and form with remarkable efficiency. What details do you notice first?

Details

The mother's gentle hand protects the infant.

She cradles one child, while another stands close.

This was a preparatory sketch, never a finished work.

The loose brushwork shows how the painter planned his figures.

He was an American artist, working in London at the time.

Transcript

This intimate family scene was painted in 1776. The mother's gentle hand protects the infant. She cradles one child, while another stands close. This was a preparatory sketch, never a finished work. The loose brushwork shows how the painter planned his figures. He was an American artist, working in London at the time.