Portrait of John Hancock

Description:

John Hancock (1737–1793), Boston merchant and politician, is famous for his prominent signature on the Declaration of Independence. He presided over the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia between 1775–1777, and later served as governor of Massachusetts.

Hancock's portrait was painted by Boston artist John Singleton Copley early in the 1770s. The painting, now in the Massachusetts Historical Society, was copied by several printmakers. Joseph Hiller Senior's mezzotint survives in two versions. The Museum's copy of this print is one of the earlier state with just Hancock's name. Another version with the addition of his title, "President of the Continental Congress," and the artist's name, is in the collection of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

Joseph Hiller Sr. worked as a silversmith in the 1770s. Like Paul Revere, another Boston silversmith in this era, Hiller also made engravings. Hiller may have worked directly from Copley's portrait or copied another print. Several printed portraits of Hancock made before 1800 offer evidence of popular interest in images of political figures and the active market for prints.

Date Made: ca 1775

Depicted: Hancock, JohnOriginal Artist: Copley, John SingletonEngraver: Hiller, Joseph

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Massachusetts

Subject: Portraits

Subject:

See more items in: Work and Industry: Graphic Arts, Government, Politics, and Reform

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Related Publication: "Hancock by Hiller," IMPRINT

Credit Line: Roger P. Templin in memory of Daisy Templin

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: GA.24021Catalog Number: 24021Accession Number: 219034

Object Name: printOther Terms: print; Intaglio; Mezzotint

Physical Description: paper (overall material)ink (overall material)Measurements: sheet: 26 cm x 19.8 cm; 10 1/4 in x 7 13/16 inimage: 23 cm x 19.8 cm; 9 1/16 in x 7 13/16 in

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-caa5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_785867

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