Artwork
Study for "The Ascension"
Study for "The Ascension" is a watercolor work on paper by the Rococo painting artist John Singleton Copley. It dates from 1774 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Singleton Copley’s 1774 preparatory drawing, titled *Study for “The Ascension*,” is executed on off‑white laid paper.
John Singleton Copley’s 1774 preparatory drawing, titled *Study for “The Ascension*,” is executed on off‑white laid paper. The composition combines ink washes, pen and ink, black chalk, graphite and touches of watercolor to render a biblical tableau of an angelic figure interacting with a human participant, likely an apostle. The work functions as a study for a larger, unfinished history painting.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a celestial messenger hovering above a solitary figure, interpreted as an apostle receiving divine instruction. The interaction suggests the moment of Christ’s ascension, a theme frequently explored in 18th‑century religious art to convey spiritual elevation and the transmission of authority from the divine to the earthly realm.
Technique & Style
Copley employs a layered approach: initial graphite and black chalk outlines define form, followed by pen‑drawn details and broad ink washes that model volume. Subtle watercolor accents introduce atmospheric depth, while the fluidity of the bistre washes hints at Rococo’s emphasis on movement and lightness, contrasting with his earlier, more restrained colonial portraiture.
History & Provenance
Created while Copley was establishing his reputation in London, the study belongs to a series of religious compositions he produced to demonstrate his capacity for history painting. The work entered the American Wing collection of the museum in the early 20th century, where it has been retained as evidence of his transitional period between American and British artistic circles.
Context
The drawing reflects Copley’s strategic shift from New England portrait commissions to the grand narrative subjects favored by the British Academy. By experimenting with mixed media and preparatory sketches, he aligned himself with contemporary European practices, positioning the study as both a pedagogical tool and a showcase of his expanding technical repertoire.
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.
