Description
Richard Dana wears dark robes and white bands in John Singleton Copley’s portrait, with a gray wig framing his face. His head turns toward the left, one hand resting at his chest and the other arm angled near his hip. The contrasting gestures give the half-length likeness a distinct structure, while the shadowed curtain behind him strengthens the lighter areas of face and clothing.
Made around 1770 in oil on canvas, the work gives the portrait a material presence built through color and tone. Copley brings the sitter and the surrounding picture into a close relationship, allowing details to establish character without becoming a separate narrative. Its appeal lies in the balance between familiarity and formality. A person is recognized through a likeness, while the artist determines how that appearance will meet the viewer across the space of the image.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the John Singleton Copley collection.
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