Ebenezer Storer II c. 1767

Here is a portrait of Ebenezer Storer II, captured by John Singleton Copley with oil on canvas. Dominating the composition is Storer’s velvet cap, a symbol of erudition and standing. The hat, an eye-catching emerald green, appears in portraits across centuries. Consider how, in earlier Renaissance paintings, similar headwear denoted scholarly or ecclesiastical status. This motif reappears in works portraying clerics, professors, and esteemed members of society, signaling their intellectual achievements. Yet, the hat has shape-shifted through time. In some contexts, it symbolized liberty, and in others, it conveyed membership to an exclusive society. Observe the slight smirk on Storer’s face, an ambiguous expression that engages the viewer. Is it arrogance, contentment, or perhaps a hint of irony? Such psychological depth, combined with symbolic weight, creates a potent image. These enduring symbols are constantly resurrected, adapting to cultural shifts, yet retaining echoes of their original significance.