John Singleton Copley's Portrait of Reverend Joseph Sewall: New England and Transatlantic Contexts.

The article focuses on John Singleton Copley’s 1766 portrait of Reverend Joseph Sewall, a prominent Congregational minister of Boston’s Old South Church and supporter of colonial rights. It situates the painting as a pivotal work in Copley’s career, marking his stylistic transition toward a softer, more painterly approach influenced by English artistic tastes and his ambitions for international recognition. The portrait was unusual among Copley’s colonial works for being intended for mezzotint reproduction, reflecting efforts to reach a broader audience in England. The article also provides a detailed biography of Sewall, emphasizing his religious leadership, emotional preaching style, and commitment to civil liberties, while tracing the painting’s provenance and its relative obscurity in art historical literature.