Copley is also notable for his efforts to merge portraiture with the academically more revered art of history painting, which he attempted with his group portraits of famous military men.
Copley er også kendt for sine bestræbelser på at sammensmelte portrætmaleriet med det akademisk mere velanskrevne historiemaleri, som han forsøgte i sine gruppeportrætter af berømte militærpersoner.