Copley, Boy with a Squirrel

John Singleton Copley, A Boy with a Flying Squirrel (Henry Pelham), 1765, 77.15 x 63.82 cm / 30-3/8 x 25-1/8 inches (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston). Created by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker.

[Sasha]

In the context of the surrounding videos, this one was too random to pass up, lol.

The scenario Dr. Harris describes at the beginning does sound like a nightmare... It's one thing to not know what your passions and gifts are - as so many people do not - but another to be fully aware and stuck without options. Good for Copley making the most of the situation he was in, though.

This really is a beautiful piece. Dr. Zucker kinda made me laugh with that "for someone who was self-taught" bit. I was like, "For someone who was any kind of taught with hands blessed by God Himself! lol." It's extraordinary what people can do when they devote themselves to something.

Sir Joshua Reynolds' comment gives me a sense of how bougie and presumptuous people can be... And poor shoemakers! There's nothing "low" about the work someone does if they're passionate about it and skillful in its execution.

[ajmittendorf]

You guys are helping me write about art even when you're not trying to. You give me ideas about articles that are weeks or months down the road even while talking about a piece that has nothing to do with what I'm going to write about. You all so totally rock!! :)

[oltedders]

Unfortunately, Copley's art suffered greatly once he moved to England and started imitating conventional English portrait painting.