Artwork
Mrs. Joseph Mann (Bethia Torrey)
Mrs. Joseph Mann (Bethia Torrey) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist John Singleton Copley. It dates from 1753 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Mrs.
About this work
Overview
Mrs. Joseph Mann (Bethia Torrey) is a portrait painted in oil by John Singleton Copley in 1753. It is now part of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Bethia Torrey Mann seated in a chair, wearing a blue dress with white ruffles and a red shawl. She holds a pearl necklace, conveying an air of elegance and refinement.
Technique & Style
Copley's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume in the painting. The work is characterized by the rococo style, evident in its use of vibrant colors against a muted landscape background.
History & Provenance
Copley, born in Boston in 1738 to Anglo-Irish parents, was an established portrait painter among the colonial elite before moving to London in 1774.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Singleton Copley (July 3, 1738 – September 9, 1815) was an American-born British painter active in both the Thirteen Colonies and England.
