The sitter was the child of Sampson Copestake (d.1781) of Kirk Langley and his second wife Elizabeth Taylor. Sampson, the younger, was born on the 25 March 1726 and died in 1816. His property was inherited by his two sisters, Elizabeth, (whose portrait was executed at the same time as Sampson's,) and Anne. Elizabeth married the Rev. James Bingham, Rector of Emperson, Nottingham and Anne married Henry Goodall of Kirk Langley.

This is a superb example of Wright's early work. The influence of Thomas Hudson, the foremost painter of his generation in London, under whom he had trained, is evident, however, Wright has invested the portrait with a new liveliness and lightness which is entirely his own. Wright's mastery of drapery was a talent which on occasion led both Hudson and Allan Ramsay to employ him to finish the drapery in their own pictures.

This is an autograph version of the portrait of Sampson listed in the artist's account books under 'Sitters of Derby'; 'Mr. Copestake and Miss Copestake £6.6s' (cited in B. Nicholson, Joseph Wright of Derby, Painter of Light, London, 1968, p. 190). The other version of the portrait was sold with the pendant of Elizabeth at Christie's, London, 16 June 2000, lot 28 (£59,850).