Purpose;

An educational blog dedicated to discussion and commentary on art in a historical context, as well as sharing related images of interest.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Enlightenment style

John Singleton Copley (1768-1770 A.D.)
Portrait of Paul Revere
Oil on canvas

  Copley demonstrates his skill in portraiture with this lifelike depiction of Revere at work as a silversmith. Great attention to minute detail, such as the reflection on the tabletop and texture of clothes, exemplifies his work. Like his contemporary Joseph Wright of Derby, Copley utilized a dark shadowy background to highlight the subject, who seemed bathed in a soft, natural light. This use of sharp focus and relaxed subjects is typical of the Enlightenment style during the 18th century.


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