Thomas Hancock (1703-1764) 1764 - 1766

Curator: John Singleton Copley painted this portrait of Thomas Hancock, a prominent merchant, sometime in the mid-18th century; it now resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The composition is striking. The subject’s gaze, combined with the rich colors, creates an immediate sense of authority and quiet opulence. Curator: Indeed. Hancock, as a key figure in colonial Boston, accumulated substantial wealth through trade, including involvement in industries now recognized as deeply problematic, such as the transatlantic slave trade. The luxurious surroundings—the grand drapery and ornate furniture—speak to that socioeconomic position. Editor: The textures are amazing, especially the way Copley renders the sheen of the silk and the crispness of the paper in Hancock’s hand. The semiotic weight of these details shouldn't be understated. Curator: Absolutely. The materiality here underscores the complexities of colonial wealth and power, prompting us to consider the legacy of figures like Hancock within larger systems of exploitation. Editor: Looking at it now, it really is a complex tapestry of power and wealth on display.