Nathaniel Hurd
c. 1765
John Singleton Copley captured Boston silversmith Nathaniel Hurd in this striking 1765 portrait, showing him dressed in a shimmering silk banyan and a large velvet cap. The heavy books on the table hint at his intellectual side, contrasting with his trade as an engraver. That fancy robe was the 18th-century equivalent of a 'power suit' for scholars relaxing at home, showing off wealth without trying too hard. Copley's incredible attention to the fabric's sheen makes this a masterpiece of American colonial realism.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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