Ralph Earl (artist)
Encyclopedia
Ralph Earl was an American
painter known for his portraits, of which at least 183 can be documented. He also painted six landscapes, including a panorama display of Niagara Falls
.
or Leicester, Massachusetts
. By 1774, he was working in New Haven, Connecticut
as a portrait painter. In the autumn of 1774, Earl returned to Leicester, Massachusetts
to marry his cousin, Sarah Gates. A few months later, their daughter was born; however, Earl left them both with Sarah's parents and returned to New Haven.
Like so many of the colonial craftsmen, Earl was self-taught, and for many years was an itinerant painter. In 1775, Earl visited Lexington and Concord, which were the sites of recent battles in the American Revolution
. Although his father was a colonel in the Revolutionary army
, Ralph Earl himself was a Loyalist
. Nevertheless, working in collaboration with the engraver Amos Doolittle
, he drew four battle scenes that were made into pro-Revolutionary propaganda prints.
In 1778, he left behind his wife and daughter and escaped to England by disguising himself as the servant of British army captain John Money
.
In London
, he entered the studio of Benjamin West
, and painted the king and many notables. Earl continued painting portraits in the town of Norwich
. He later married Ann Whiteside, an English woman, despite the fact that he had never ended his marriage with Sarah Gates. In 1785 or 1786, Earl returned to the United States
with his new wife.
After his return to America, he made portraits of Timothy Dwight
, Governor Caleb Strong
, Roger Sherman
, and other prominent men. He also painted a large picture of Niagara Falls
. In September 1786, while living in New York City
, Earl was imprisoned for failing to pay his personal debts. Even while in jail, he drew portraits of his visitors, friends, and family of the Society for the Relief of Distressed Debtors. He was released in January 1788.
He died in Bolton, Connecticut
, on the August 16, 1801. Alcoholism
is believed to be the main cause of death.
Earl probably trained his son, painter Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
, and was an influence on his nephew Augustus Earle
who is reputed to have been the first european artist to have visited all five continents. Ralph's brother James Earl
(1761-1796) also was a portrait painter.
Earl was also an influence on John Brewster, Jr.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter known for his portraits, of which at least 183 can be documented. He also painted six landscapes, including a panorama display of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
.
Life and work
Ralph Earl was born in either ShrewsburyShrewsbury, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,640 people, 12,366 households, and 8,693 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 12,696 housing units at an average density of...
or Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,970 at the 2010 census.-History:Leicester was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1714....
. By 1774, he was working in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
as a portrait painter. In the autumn of 1774, Earl returned to Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester, Massachusetts
Leicester is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,970 at the 2010 census.-History:Leicester was first settled in 1713 and was officially incorporated in 1714....
to marry his cousin, Sarah Gates. A few months later, their daughter was born; however, Earl left them both with Sarah's parents and returned to New Haven.
Like so many of the colonial craftsmen, Earl was self-taught, and for many years was an itinerant painter. In 1775, Earl visited Lexington and Concord, which were the sites of recent battles in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Although his father was a colonel in the Revolutionary army
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
, Ralph Earl himself was a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
. Nevertheless, working in collaboration with the engraver Amos Doolittle
Amos Doolittle
Amos Doolittle was an American engraver and silversmith, known as "The Revere of Connecticut."A self-taught artist from Cheshire, CT, Doolittle became an expert in copper engraving and specialized in scenes of the American Revolutionary war...
, he drew four battle scenes that were made into pro-Revolutionary propaganda prints.
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In 1778, he left behind his wife and daughter and escaped to England by disguising himself as the servant of British army captain John Money
John Money
John William Money was a psychologist, sexologist and author, specializing in research into sexual identity and biology of gender...
.
In London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he entered the studio of Benjamin West
Benjamin West
Benjamin West, RA was an Anglo-American painter of historical scenes around and after the time of the American War of Independence...
, and painted the king and many notables. Earl continued painting portraits in the town of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
. He later married Ann Whiteside, an English woman, despite the fact that he had never ended his marriage with Sarah Gates. In 1785 or 1786, Earl returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with his new wife.
Timothy Dwight IV
Timothy Dwight was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian, and author...
, Governor Caleb Strong
Caleb Strong
Caleb Strong was Massachusetts lawyer and politician who served as the sixth and tenth Governor of Massachusetts between 1800 and 1807, and again from 1812 until 1816.-Biography:...
, Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman was an early American lawyer and politician, as well as a founding father. He served as the first mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, and served on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and was also a representative and senator in the new republic...
, and other prominent men. He also painted a large picture of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
. In September 1786, while living in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Earl was imprisoned for failing to pay his personal debts. Even while in jail, he drew portraits of his visitors, friends, and family of the Society for the Relief of Distressed Debtors. He was released in January 1788.
He died in Bolton, Connecticut
Bolton, Connecticut
Bolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,017 at the 2000 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.-History:...
, on the August 16, 1801. Alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
is believed to be the main cause of death.
Earl probably trained his son, painter Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl , also known as Ralph E. W. Earl or Ralph Eleazer Whiteside Earl, was an American painter known as the "court painter" to President Andrew Jackson....
, and was an influence on his nephew Augustus Earle
Augustus Earle
Augustus Earle was a London-born travel artist. Unlike earlier artists who worked outside Europe and were employed on voyages of exploration or worked abroad for wealthy, often aristocratic patrons, Earle was able to operate quite independently - able to combine his lust for travel with an...
who is reputed to have been the first european artist to have visited all five continents. Ralph's brother James Earl
James Earl
James Earl, an American portrait painter, was probably a brother of Ralph Earl. He was a native of Leicester, Massachusetts, and died of yellow fever at Charleston in 1796.-References:...
(1761-1796) also was a portrait painter.
Earl was also an influence on John Brewster, Jr.
External links
- Portrait of Roger Sherman, circa 1775 (age 24): Earl-PortraitRSherman.
- "Early American Paintings" (biography), Worcester Art, 2005, webpage: WorcArt-EarlR.
- Union List of Artist Names, Getty Vocabularies. ULAN Full Record Display for Ralph Earl. Getty Vocabulary Program, Getty Research Institute. Los Angeles, California.
