Who painted A Gentleman?

A Gentleman was painted by John Singleton Copley in 1778.

Where can I see A Gentleman?

A Gentleman is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is A Gentleman?

A Gentleman is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

A Gentleman

John Singleton Copley , 1778

A Gentleman is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist John Singleton Copley. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The piece measures roughly the size of a standard drawing sheet and remains a modest example of Copley’s draftsmanship in the late 18th century.

John Singleton Copley’s drawing titled *A Gentleman* dates from 1778. Executed in graphite and white chalk on a gray‑washed sheet of laid paper, the work is framed by a faint pencil grid that suggests it was used as a study for a larger composition or as a scaled copy. The piece measures roughly the size of a standard drawing sheet and remains a modest example of Copley’s draftsmanship in the late 18th century.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts a seated male figure, one leg casually crossed over the other, dressed in a long coat, loose shirt and voluminous trousers. His hands rest lightly on his knees, and his expression conveys a calm, slightly weary demeanor. The pose and attire hint at a gentleman of modest means, perhaps captured in a moment of quiet contemplation rather than formal portraiture.

Technique & Style

Copley employs a combination of graphite for line work and white chalk for highlights, creating a range of tonal values that model the clothing’s folds and the figure’s form. The drawing is rendered with a loose, sketch‑like quality; some passages are heavily shaded while others remain barely suggested, giving the work a sense of immediacy. The underlying grid indicates a methodical approach to proportion and scaling.

History & Provenance

Created toward the end of Copley’s American period, the drawing predates his relocation to London in 1774 and reflects his continued interest in figure studies. The piece has remained in private collections before entering a museum holding of 18th‑century American drawings, where it is catalogued as part of the artist’s preparatory works.

Context

In the 1770s Copley was transitioning from large oil portraits to more intimate studies, experimenting with drawing media to explore light, texture, and gesture. *A Gentleman* aligns with this phase, offering insight into his process of capturing character through rapid, gestural marks rather than the polished finish of his finished portraits.