Enlightenment Artwork - Essay Example

John Singleton Copley's 1778 oil painting, "Watson and the Shark", shows a young orphan, Brook Watson, being rescued from a shark attack by a crew on a small boat (Floryan). The wide gaping mouth of the shark, the choppy waves, eager and fearful expressions on the crew’s faces and Watson’s outstretched hand effectively illustrate the intensity, violence, and immense action taking place in the otherwise serene harbor behind them. Suffering two shark attacks and being rescued on the third attempt, Watson lost his right leg and yet still rose to political power by becoming a Lord Mayor of London towards the end of his life (Floryan).

Copley aptly depicts this heroic and political progress by minimizing the gory details in the painting, showing the viewers just enough of the bloody ordeal that he went through while at the same time highlighting his resurgence from death and doom. For example, a little blood is seen on Watson’s right leg beneath the translucent green waves and a small amount is also shown on the shark’s teeth. Watson is also painted as bare and completely naked, meticulously highlighting his gleaming muscular body outstretched in stark contrast to the shark’s dark and leering form.

He is literally shown as emerging and being rescued from the jaws of death, symbolizing his rebirth and entry into life. Copley produced this painting around the time of great political conflict and it also immediately brings to mind the Revolutionary War, skillfully highlighting a strong political message. For example, Watson, a British Tory, is heroically rescued and salvaged from the watery depths. Similarly, the two countries, America and Britain, had also recently emerged from a bloody war.

Watson’s resurrection both physically and spiritually along with his political ascension, symbolizes the renewal and restoration of Britain and its power. The bold emergence of Watson, despite being attacked and undergoing amputation, portrays the rise of the British Empire regardless of the suffering and violence of the Revolutionary War. References Floryan, Meg. Copley's Watson and the Shark. Retrieved from http://smarthistory.org/copleys-watson-and-the-shark.html