John Singleton Copley

Study for ‘The Collapse of the Earl of Chatham’

c.1779

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
John Singleton Copley 1738–1815
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 635 x 768 mm
frame: 460 x 840 x 110 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1879
Reference
N01072

Display caption

This is a study for a large painting to commemorate an incident in the House of Lords on 7 April 1778, when the great statesman William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, collapsed with a fatal stroke while speaking against American independence. Because he supported the colony's interests in every other respect, he was greatly admired by most Americans, including Copley. The recent event is presented here as a grand historical drama, on a scale usually reserved for ancient history. Although carefully composed and enhanced (the peers, for instance, were not wearing their official robes at the time), the work remains faithful to reality with over fifty accurate portraits of those present.

Gallery label, September 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

You might like

John Singleton Copley, ‘Study for ‘The Collapse of the Earl of Chatham’’ c.1779

John Singleton Copley Study for ‘The Collapse of the Earl of Chatham’

c.1779
N01073
John Singleton Copley, ‘The Collapse of the Earl of Chatham in the House of Lords, 7 July 1778’ 1779–80

John Singleton Copley The Collapse of the Earl of Chatham in the House of Lords, 7 July 1778

1779–80
N00100
John Singleton Copley, ‘The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781’ 1783

John Singleton Copley The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781

1783
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N00733
John Singleton Copley, ‘The Fountaine Family’ ?1776

John Singleton Copley The Fountaine Family

?1776
T14685
John Singleton Copley, ‘The Siege and Relief of Gibraltar, 13 September 1782; ?replica’ c.1783

John Singleton Copley The Siege and Relief of Gibraltar, 13 September 1782; ?replica

c.1783
N00787
John Singleton Copley, ‘Portrait of Mrs Gill’ c.1770–1

John Singleton Copley Portrait of Mrs Gill

c.1770–1
T02386
Gilbert Stuart, ‘Benjamin West, P.R.A.’ ?exhibited 1781

Gilbert Stuart Benjamin West, P.R.A.

?exhibited 1781
N00229
Gilbert Stuart, ‘William Woollett the Engraver’ exhibited 1783

Gilbert Stuart William Woollett the Engraver

exhibited 1783
N00217
Gilbert Stuart, ‘Portrait of a Man (Self-portrait?)’ c.1782–9

Gilbert Stuart Portrait of a Man (Self-portrait?)

c.1782–9
N05612
Gavin Hamilton, ‘Priam Pleading with Achilles for the Body of Hector’ ?engraved 1775

Gavin Hamilton Priam Pleading with Achilles for the Body of Hector

?engraved 1775
T00864

Thomas Stothard Lord William Russell Taking Leave of his Children

date not known
N01833
Benjamin West, ‘Cleombrotus Ordered into Banishment by Leonidas II, King of Sparta’ 1768

Benjamin West Cleombrotus Ordered into Banishment by Leonidas II, King of Sparta

1768
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N00121
John Nost Sartorius, ‘The Earl of Darlington Fox-Hunting with the Raby Pack: Full Cry’ 1804

John Nost Sartorius The Earl of Darlington Fox-Hunting with the Raby Pack: Full Cry

1804
T02370

Robert Smirke The Afflicted Matron, the Countess Trifaldi, from ‘Don Quixote’

date not known
N01777
Sir Henry Raeburn, ‘The 1st Viscount Melville’ c.1805

Sir Henry Raeburn The 1st Viscount Melville

c.1805
N03880