William Verstille: A Boston Miniature Painter William Verstille (1757 – 1803) was an American artist who achieved considerable renown during the Rococo and Neoclassical periods, primarily recognized for his exquisitely detailed miniature portraits executed on ivory. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Verstille’s artistic journey began with a formal apprenticeship under John Singleton Copley, arguably Boston's most celebrated painter of his time—a connection that profoundly shaped his stylistic sensibilities and technical prowess. This mentorship instilled within him the meticulous observation sk…