Nicholas Boylston 1769

"Nicholas Boylston" is a 1769 portrait by John Singleton Copley, one of the most important American artists of the 18th century. Copley's early work is characterized by its realism and attention to detail, evident in the subject's textured clothing and the depiction of a landscape in the background. This oil painting, part of the collection of the Fogg Museum at Harvard Art Museums, showcases Copley's talent for portraying the wealthy and influential figures of his time, in this instance, the Boston merchant and philanthropist Nicholas Boylston.