Reverend Myles Cooper 1769

John Singleton Copley’s 1769 portrait of Reverend Myles Cooper, now at Columbia University, is a masterful example of American portraiture. The painting depicts Cooper in a formal pose, dressed in academic robes and a black cravat, showcasing the subject's intellectual and social stature. Copley’s skillful use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and realism, capturing the details of Cooper’s features and the texture of his garments. This portrait, like many of Copley's other works, is renowned for its meticulous attention to detail and its lifelike depiction of its subject.