America's first great portrait painter, John Singleton Copley, excelled at a time when portraiture was in great demand in the colonies. As with most 18th century portraitists, Copley emphasized setting to convey the proper mood. He would pose ladies before fine furniture and tasseled draperies; men were painted surrounded by books and tools or hunting dogs and guns. He toured Italy in 1774 and 1775 and then settled in London. Copley then turned to historical and religious paintings. Copley remained in London and was elected a full member of the Royal Academy in 1779.