John Singleton Copley | Explore & Learn | The Metropolitan Museum of Art

John Singleton Copley, American, 1738–1815
The Return of Neptune, ca. 1754
Oil on canvas; 27 1/2 x 44 1/2 in.(69.4 x 113 cm)
Gift of Mrs. Orme Wilson, in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Nelson Borland, 1959 (59.198)

In 1754 Copley painted three historical works closely derived from mezzotints. This method of copying enhanced his knowledge of art and art theory, and the paintings themselves may be considered technical exercises that made him a more proficient artist, even if the market for portraiture in America curtailed his ambition to be a history painter.
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Photograph Credits


	John Singleton Copley, American, 1738–1815 The Return of Neptune, ca. 1754 Oil on canvas; 27 1/2 x 44 1/2 in.(69.4 x 113 cm) Gift of Mrs. Orme Wilson, in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Nelson Borland, 1959 (59.198)
In 1754 Copley painted three historical works closely derived from mezzotints. This method of copying enhanced his knowledge of art and art theory, and the paintings themselves may be considered technical exercises that made him a more proficient artist, even if the market for portraiture in America curtailed his ambition to be a history painter. Click on the image to see a larger version of the painting. To look at another painting, go back to the main screen.