Who painted Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham"?

Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham" was painted by John Singleton Copley in 1779.

Where can I see Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham"?

Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham" is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham"?

Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham" is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham"

John Singleton Copley , 1779

Study for "The Death of the Earl of Chatham" is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist John Singleton Copley. It dates from 1779 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

John Singleton Copley produced a preparatory drawing in 1779 titled Study for “The Death of the Earl of Chatham.” Executed on discolored blue paper, the work serves as a compositional sketch for a larger composition that Copley intended to develop.

Technique & Style

The drawing combines graphite with white chalk, allowing the artist to model forms and suggest light against the darkened paper surface. The use of chalk highlights focal areas, while graphite provides structural lines, reflecting Copley’s practice of integrating drawing media to plan complex narrative scenes.

Context

Created during the late eighteenth century, the study belongs to a period when Copley was transitioning from portraiture to historical subjects. The subject— the death of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham—was a contemporary political event, indicating Copley’s engagement with current affairs in his preparatory work.