John Singleton Copley painted this portrait of John Hancock. Hancock is shown in fancy, but not ostentatious,dress, and hard at work writing in a massive tome. he is shown as a handsome young man, with a gray wig that was the fashion at the time. He is obviously at work, being surrounded by books and an inkwell, and this separates him from the old-world european aristocracy. People like that would never want to be shown at work, reading and writing in semi-casual dress.
This painting is really well done by John Singleton Copley, the detailing and the coloring is great. I agree with Jamie when he says that Hancock must be at work since he is surrounded by books and other things, but I believe that he is signing the Declaration of Independence in this painting. John Hancock was a very wealthy man who was heavily involved in the American Revolution, his resistance to the British also provides clues of how he represents the United States' Identity well. Overall Hancock was a great man who came from a rich family and who helped the United States a great amount during the Revolution.
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James G Mazzio-Manson Class of 2015 at the Belmont Hill School