Brief Biography-John Singleton Copley was mainly a portraitist and combined his work with historical scenes. He took instruction from his stepfather Peter Pelham who was a limner. As a result, the Rococo style influenced him, which was unique among American artists. Copley resided in Boston primarily, except for a short spell in New York.
His father-in-law was a merchant whose tea was involved in the Boston Tea Party and, when political unrest began, left with his family for England in 1774. He lived in London for the remainder of his life. In England, he worked more on history painting with significant accomplishments and became a member of the Royal Academy in 1779. Unfortunately, his last years were preoccupied with financial difficulties despite doing well with his art.