Thomas Amory II c. 1770 - 1772

John Singleton Copley made this portrait of Thomas Amory II using oil paints. The illusionistic skill of applying paint to canvas was considered a high art at the time. Note how Copley has used his control of the medium to convey the sitter’s social standing. From the wig, to the tailoring of his coat, to the gleaming head of his cane, everything here denotes wealth. Even the column behind him suggests classical status. But notice, too, how the oil paint performs its own kind of labor. The artist's craft, the ability to blend and layer pigment, allows him to conjure different textures and effects, from the soft sheen of the hair to the rougher weave of the clothing. Copley’s efforts are crucial to the painting’s social work, fixing Amory in time, and in the hierarchies of his day. Looking at the portrait through the lens of materials and making reminds us that art always involves real effort, and has real effects in the world.