Copley's Portrait of Alice Hooper.
A 1763 painting by an American artist whose parents were from Ireland has just been acquired by the Milwaukee Art Museum in Wisconsin. John Singleton Copley’s (1738–1815) portrait of Alice Hooper is a masterpiece, even though he was only 25 when he painted it. Copley is recognized as one of the great American artists of the day—and one of the first native-born painters to achieve success both at home and abroad. The painting was featured on this website last December.
Alice Hooper was the seventeen-year-old daughter of the wealthiest man in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Robert “King” Hooper. He commissioned the work to mark his daughter’s engagement to Jacob Fowle, Jr. The Hoopers were happy with the result and it secured Copley’s success. There were nine additional commissions for members of Alice’s immediate and extended families and Copley became famous for his portraits of Colonial New England.
The portrait was a highlight of the Winter Antiques Show in New York earlier this year where it was featured by the Hirschl & Adler Galleries. John Singleton Copley’s father, Richard, came from Limerick, his mother Mary was a Singleton from Co. Clare. Boston’s Copley Square and Copley Plaza bear his name.
The Milwaukee Art Museum is, in 2011, celebrating the 10th anniversary of its iconic Quadracci Pavilion, Santiago Calatrava’s first completed commission in the US. It has featured in Hollywood films, tv ads and shows and was named Time Magazine’s “Best Design of 2001.”
(See antiquesandartireland.com post for December 28, 2010).