Paint Monthly : January 2017 : John Singleton Copley

A new year, another January and Paint Monthly is back again wishing you a Happy New Year.

I have chosen John Singleton Copley(1738 - 1815) an American artist for a very special reason. Every year since 1781 on January 6th, Jersey celebrates a very special anniversary. The Battle Of Jersey. During the Anglo-French war the French were worried about the threat Jersey posed. In January 1781 they launched an armed attack on the island and the Battle of Jersey commenced. Do click on the link to find out more. 
After Jersey won this very decisive battle the American artist John Singleton Copley was commissioned to paint the battle and the very famous death scene of Jersey's major Peirson in St Helier's Royal Square. Walking through the square today you realise it is a very small area to have a battle.

Copley was born in Boston but went to live in London in 1774. It was when he exhibited his family group in the Royal Academy that he started to get favourable reviews. His Copley family group is another of those paintings I love. Look carefully at it and you learn so much about the time. Look at the way all the children are dressed. Both girls and boys wear dresses when they were young.

His ambition was to paint large historical scenes. With his improved reviews he was chosen to paint the Battle of Jersey as well as other famous historic events including The death of the earl of Chatham and the siege of Gibraltar.

A slightly different style of artwork this month but as usual linking to my love of history,

If you get a chance please do submit a a painting or artwork from a favourite artist or exhibition. I look forward to reading your posts.