Charles Pelham 1754

John Singleton Copley painted "Charles Pelham" with oil on canvas, but the exact date remains unknown. Copley, a prominent portrait painter in colonial America, often captured the likenesses of the wealthy merchant class. In this work, Pelham is depicted in the attire of an educated gentleman: wig, ruffled shirt, and quill pen. His gaze is direct, almost confrontational. Pelham’s identity is tied to the economic and intellectual power structures of his time. As such, portraits like this reinforced social hierarchies. Consider the complexities inherent in such representations. Whose stories are told, and whose are omitted? What does it mean to be remembered in such a formal, constructed manner? Copley's portraits offer insights into the individuals of this era, reflecting the complex interplay of power, identity, and representation during a formative period in American history.