John Cockey, III
Philip Tilyard
ca. 1822-1827
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase
Accession Number
1970.285
Tags
bust
About this artwork
John Cockey was born in 1772 into a prominent Maryland family. His father was an ardent Whig and served as a captain in the Revolutionary War. The family owned great tracts of land in Maryland, particularly in Baltimore. Philip Tilyard depicted Cockey with a penetrating gaze that suggests a confident and intimidating personality. The blank background draws our attention to the manâs features, particularly the icy color of his eyes.