Fine Art Analysis - Watson and the Shark

Watson and the Shark (1778), an oil painting by John Singleton Copley, depicts a real-life event in 1749 when Brook Watson, 14, was rescued while being attacked by a shark near Havana, Cuba. He survived, though his right leg below the knee had to be amputated. Watson, who went on have a successful business and political career in London, hired Copley to recreate this pivotal moment from his youth.

DIRECTIONS

1. Spend a quiet minute or two looking at the artwork. Then, describe what you see. What part stands out the most?

2. Write two adjectives that describe the feeling, mood, or atmosphere created in this painting.

3. Focus on two of the men in the boat. Describe the two men you’ve chosen and then explain what you think each man is thinking. What do the differences show you about how people react in times of turmoil?

4. This painting depicts an actual shark attack, but the shark could also be seen as a symbolic element. What might the shark represent to a viewer of the painting in the 18th century? To a modern viewer?

5. Thinking about the subject matter, mood, and symbolic element/s you’ve noticed, what’s a reasonable message this painting delivers to the viewer?

6. If you were asked by Copley’s representative to give this painting a new name, what name would you choose? Explain your reasoning.