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Watson and the Shark

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

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Watson and the Shark

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  1. Ethan Holaday Watson and the Shark John Singleton Copley 1778

  2. Background • Artist: John Singleton Copley • Medium: Oil on Canvas • Style: Neo-Classicism • Contractor: Brook Watson • Current Location: National Gallery of Art

  3. What functions are performed by lines?

  4. Outline Shape • Implies Movement • Create Focus • Create Sense of Calm

  5. How are shapes used?

  6. Organic Shapes in the Foreground • Imply chaos, lack of order, randomness • Geometric Shapes in the Background • Express control, peace, order

  7. Where is there visual texture?

  8. Smoothness of Watson’s skin • Turbulence of waves • Jagged teeth of shark • Ruffles in Clothing • Smoothness and sharpness of harpoon • Gossamer lightness of sails

  9. How is the illusion of space created?

  10. 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

  11. What symbolic purpose does value have?

  12. Watson bright, glowing • Freedom • Purity • Goodness • Shark and Clouds above dark, murky • Danger • Chaos • Clouds in the distance bright, glowing • Hope

  13. What unity and variety is present?

  14. 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

  15. How is ethos used?

  16. Watson’s terror • Varied emotions of men • Rage of the harpooner • Violent fury of the shark

  17. What is the MESSAGE????

  18. 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.

  19. What are the purposes?

  20. 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

  21. 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

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