Earl of Mansfield
1779-80
Imagine the stress of the American Revolution—artist John Singleton Copley fled to London and threw himself into painting British history. Here, he sketches the Earl of Mansfield (and likely a colleague) in their full judicial glory: massive wigs and sweeping robes that take up half the page. Created around 1779, this drawing is a 'behind-the-scenes' look at Copley's Neoclassical style, showing how he practiced the dramatic folds of fabric and solemn poses before tackling his huge, famous canvases. It’s like an 18th-century rehearsal for a grand historical play.
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