Ethan Holaday
Watson and the Shark
John Singleton Copley
1778
Background
• Artist: John Singleton Copley
• Medium: Oil on Canvas
• Style: Neo-Classicism
• Contractor: Brook Watson
• Current Location: National Gallery of Art
What functions are performed by lines?
• Outline Shape
• Implies Movement
• Create Focus
• Create Sense of Calm
How are shapes used?
• Organic Shapes in the Foreground
– Imply chaos, lack of order, randomness
• Geometric Shapes in the Background
– Express control, peace, order
Where is there visual texture?
• Smoothness of Watson’s skin
• Turbulence of waves
• Jagged teeth of shark
• Ruffles in Clothing
• Smoothness and sharpness of harpoon
• Gossamer lightness of sails
How is the illusion of space created?
• Things in foreground (Watson, shark, and boat) larger
• Things in background (harbor, boats, battlements)
smaller
• Vanishing point behind harpooner
• No definite horizon line
• Sense of urgency and epic nature
What symbolic purpose does value have?
• Watson bright, glowing
– Freedom
– Purity
– Goodness
• Shark and Clouds above dark, murky
– Danger
– Chaos
• Clouds in the distance bright, glowing
– Hope
What unity and variety is present?
• Unity
– Proximity of men in boat
• Togetherness, strength
– Repetition of ships on harbor
• Order, perfection, peace
• Variety
– Reactions of men
• Complexity of human emotion
– Watson’s Nudity
• Youth, innocence, vulnerability
How is ethos used?
• Watson’s terror
• Varied emotions of men
• Rage of the harpooner
• Violent fury of the shark
What is the MESSAGE????
• My opinion:
– Social Contract theory of John Locke
• Man is pure, innocent, and totally free in his
natural state. However he is completely vulnerable
and lacks any measure of security. Therefore man
must become a part of society, giving up absolute
freedom for the security and strength offered by it.
When this is accepted, the man experiences a new
birth of life and can have hope for his future.
What are the purposes?
• To entertain the English people with an exciting scene in
a faraway place and the past
• To convey the Social Contract Theory
• For Copley to earn respect in the artistic world
• To make people think twice before swimming alone in
shark infested waters
Bibliography
• Copley, John Singleton. Watson and the Shark. 1778.
National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Smart History. Web.
26 Oct. 2011
• Floryan, Meg. “Copley’s Watson and the Shark.” Smart History.
Khan Academy, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2011
• Gersh-Nesic, Beth. “Neo-Classicism.” Smart History. Khan Academy,
n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2011
• “Watson and the Shark.” National Gallery of Art. National Gallery of
Art, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2011