Isaac Smith, Sr. 1769

John Singleton Copley’s portrait "Isaac Smith, Sr.," invites us into the world of the 18th century elite, where identity and status were carefully constructed. Copley, working in a pre-revolutionary America, captured the likeness of Isaac Smith, a man of considerable wealth and social standing. Smith's gaze is direct, his posture confident, adorned in the attire of his class. Yet, this image exists within a society deeply shaped by the labor and oppression of others. Smith's wealth, like that of many of his contemporaries, was entangled with the transatlantic slave trade, a brutal system that denied humanity to countless individuals. Copley, though celebrated for his artistic skill, operated within this complex moral landscape. His portraits offer a glimpse into the lives of those who benefited from these structures, prompting us to reflect on the uncomfortable truths that underpin so much of our shared history.