Nicholas Boylston (1716-1771) 1773

Curator: John Singleton Copley painted this portrait of Nicholas Boylston sometime in the mid-18th century. Boylston was a prominent merchant and benefactor of Harvard College. Editor: Whoa, those shoes! I'm immediately drawn to those bright orange slippers—they pop against the ornate blue robe and patterned rug. It's like a secret burst of personality. Curator: Indeed. The luxurious robe, combined with the setting featuring a classical column, speaks to Boylston’s wealth and status within the colonial hierarchy. The somewhat eccentric attire, however, suggests a degree of individuality. Editor: Exactly! I see a man comfortable in his own skin, not afraid to bend the rules a little. The red cap, the slightly rumpled robe—it's all wonderfully humanizing. Curator: Let's not forget the historical context. Copley's portraits often functioned as visual testaments to the sitter's social standing within a society grappling with the burgeoning ideas of republicanism. Editor: Absolutely. But even with all that societal weight, Copley captures a sense of intimacy. I feel like I'm catching Boylston in a moment of quiet contemplation, maybe even a hint of mischief. Curator: It's that tension, I think, between the demands of representation and the artist's eye for individual character, that makes this portrait so compelling. Editor: I agree. It's a conversation starter. It makes you wonder about the man behind the image, about his life and his world.