John Singleton Copley: Watson and the Shark (1778)

(National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA)

A painting by the American artist John Singleton Copley (1738-1815). This piece shows an incident which happened 1749. Sir Brook Watson (1735-1807) was the son of John Watson and Sarah Watson who was orphaned at an early age. Watson showed interest in the sea and his uncle signed him up as a crew member on one of his merchant ships. When the ship was stationed in Havanna, Cuba, the 14-year-old Watson went for a swim in the harbour but was attacked by a shark. the shark attacked twice before crew members managed to rescue Watson (shown on the painting) but his leg had to be amputated below the knee. Watson later became a merchant and Lord Mayor of London. The painting was a huge success and ensured the election of Copley to London’s prestigious Royal Academy. Painting from 1778.