Artwork

Benjamin Vaughan

Benjamin Vaughan, by Samuel Cotes, oil, 1768
Benjamin Vaughan, by Samuel Cotes, oil, 1768

Benjamin Vaughan is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Samuel Cotes. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

He wears a brown suit with a waistcoat, white shirt, and white stockings, with his right hand resting on his lap.

This painting depicts a man seated in a red chair, holding a rolled-up paper in his left hand. He wears a brown suit with a waistcoat, white shirt, and white stockings, with his right hand resting on his lap. The background features a red curtain with a tassel hanging from the top left corner.

The man's attire and hairstyle suggest a formal portrait from the 18th century. The artist has used oil paint to create a realistic representation of the subject.

To learn more about the artist behind this work, look up Francis Cotes.

Overview

This 1768 oil painting by Francis Cotes portrays Benjamin Vaughan, a figure associated with 18th-century England's cultural and intellectual elite. The work is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, Benjamin Vaughan, is depicted in formal attire, indicating a portrait intended to convey his social standing within England's mid-18th-century intellectual circles.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint, the painting showcases Cotes' ability to achieve realistic representation, characteristic of the Rococo period's emphasis on refined detail and composition.

History & Provenance

Created in 1768, the same year Francis Cotes co-founded the Royal Academy, the painting is now held in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Context

The work reflects the Rococo style prevalent during Cotes' active period, marked by delicate compositions and detailed rendering, as seen in the subject's attire, accessories, and the draped red curtain background.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Samuel Cotes

Artist

Samuel Cotes

Francis Cotes (20 May 1726 – 16 July 1770) was an English painter who was one of the pioneers of English pastel painting and co-founded the Royal Academy in 1768.