The Death of Major Peirson

The Death of Major Peirson was completed in 1783, two years after the event it depicts. The epic, yet meticulously composed painting was first exhibited publicly in 1784 to large crowds of eager viewers and one critic remarked 'the chorus of praise reached all the way to Buckingham Palace'. The focal points of the painting are made distinct by the bold, elegant use of colour and movement. Major Peirson, the victim, is appropriately clothed in white against which the traces of his dramatic wound can be seen, echoing the red of the uniforms which surround him as he lurches toward the viewer in the throes of death. Pompey, the heroic black servant who avenges his master’s death while clothed in rich blacks and golds, was said to be modelled on the servant of James Christie, the founder of the eponymous Christie’s auction house.

At the time this work was made, the motif of the vanquisher dying during gallant military struggle had just been popularised by another American artist transplanted to Britain, Benjamin West.

The original work exchanged hands several times early in its life, moving amongst Copley himself; the successful engraver John Boydell, who had commissioned the painting from Copley; and a Mr. Tassie, by way of Christie’s auctioneers. It eventually ended up at the National Gallery upon Copley’s death, although the States of Jersey had hoped to purchase it at auction. Not to be deterred, the States of Jersey then entrusted the young artist William Holyoake with the task of creating a second version of the painting. This copy can be seen hanging in the Royal Court in Jersey.

Further information on the painting can be found on the Tate website.