Framed Watson and the Shark by John Singleton Copley

Product Overview:

• Proudly handmade in the USA
• Wood frame with mat, glass front, paper duster backing with wire hanger
• Museum quality Giclee digital print using archival paper and inks 
• Standard size frame measures approx. 24" wide x 17" tall
• Poster size frame measures approx. 36" wide x 25" tall

Product Details:

Watson and the Shark by John Singleton Copley captures the 1749 incident in Havana Harbor when fourteen-year-old Brook Watson was attacked by a shark while swimming. Copley portrays the desperate rescue attempt as Watson flails in the water, the shark lunging with open jaws, while nine sailors in a boat strain to pull him to safety. The composition balances terror and hope, using dynamic gestures, tense diagonals, and stark contrasts of light and shadow to heighten the drama. Though based on a true event, Copley infused the work with classical and religious overtones, turning Watson’s ordeal into a moral allegory of human struggle, salvation, and resilience.