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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Three Centuries of Portraiture - John Singleton Copley's New York Portraits

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John Singleton Copley's New York Portraits

Portraits. Today we take them for granted, but from the fifth to the fifteenth century - for much of medieval history - discrete portraits of individuals were a rarity, a form reserved for rulers and historic figures. Only in the fifteenth century did European artists, working both north and south of the Alps, once again begin to produce independent portraits of men and women. 

Colonial America’s foremost portraitist left Boston for the first time in June 1771 on the invitation of New York's A-listers to paint their portraits. He extended his stay from three to six months and painted thirty-seven portraits. As a group, these works are of exceptional artistic quality and interest. Join Timken Docent Elinor Merl for virtual talks about portraits in the Timken collection. 

This lecture series celebrates portraiture, taking a look at the works of Bartolomeo Veneto in 16th-century Italy, Anthony van Dyck in 17th-century Britain, and John Singleton Copley in 18th-century America. 

Timken Docent Elinor Merl grew up in New York City where she took advantage of the art museums and other cultural institutions the city has to offer. Upon moving to San Diego fifteen years ago, she became actively involved with the Timken and Mingei museums where she trained as a Docent. Elinor loves conveying her joy in art to guests of our museums, developing tours that bring the art ’to life' for the visitors. Elinor spends her other time attending concerts, traveling, and doing various volunteer work, including Meals on Wheels, counseling the elderly about their Medicare options, and tutoring grade school children with their reading skills.

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