John Singleton Copley: A Bostonian Pioneer of Portraiture John Singleton Copley, born in Boston in 1738, stands as a pivotal figure in the history of American art, bridging the gap between the nascent colonial spirit and the established traditions of European portraiture. His life was marked by both remarkable success and poignant personal tragedies, ultimately leading him to establish a distinguished career in London, where he continued to innovate within the conventions of his craft. Copley’s legacy rests primarily on his masterful portraits, which captured not only the likenesses of wealt…