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John Singleton Copley
Thomas Amory II, c. 1770-1772
The pre-eminent portraitist of colonial America, Copley was at the height of his success in this country when he completed this elegant portrait of Boston distillery owner Thomas Amory II. Amory stands next to a heavy stone column in a pose that suggests comfortable self-possession. His brown coat and waistcoat over a simple white shirt are fashionable yet modest. The dramatic lighting of his face and ungloved left hand imbue the sitter with a sense of dignity and humanity. |