John Hancock, John Singleton Copley, 1765
John Hancock was one of the sons of liberty a very wealthy Boston merchant. He is most famous for his large signature on the Declaration of Independence, making his name synonymous with a signature. In this painting, he is writing in an account ledger with simple surroundings. The depiction of him working in the simple setting served to eliminate some of the feeling of elitism surrounding him. In the painting he is shown as an American businessman, an elite who was also closer to the common man, unlike the aristocracy of Europe.
John Hancock was one of the sons of liberty a very wealthy Boston merchant. He is most famous for his large signature on the Declaration of Independence, making his name synonymous with a signature. In this painting, he is writing in an account ledger with simple surroundings. The depiction of him working in the simple setting served to eliminate some of the feeling of elitism surrounding him. In the painting he is shown as an American businessman, an elite who was also closer to the common man, unlike the aristocracy of Europe.