Ezra Ames
Encyclopedia
Ezra Ames was a popular portrait
painter in Albany, New York
during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. More than 700 portraits have been attributed to him.
He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
in 1768. He moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
, in 1790, and married Zipporah Wood in 1794. Some time later he moved to Albany, New York
where he painted a number of prominent people, including early portraits of Governor George Clinton
and Alexander Hamilton
.
It is not known whether Ames was formally trained or not, but his work had a popular appeal. In addition to portraits and landscapes, Ames' surviving accounts books indicated he painted miniatures, carriages, fire buckets, fences, mirror frames, and furniture.
Ames painted a number of still life
s, landscape
s, and history paintings, and was skilled at engraving. The Chautauqan Magazine describes his importance in this way; "(he) was the most noted portraitist in the state, outside New York city. The sure and fluent ease of his brush, his keen characterization, his pure, fresh coloring, are all remarkable for this early period. His portrait of Governor George Clinton
, exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy in 1812, won him wide notice; but he did delightful work some years earlier, and many even finer canvases are scattered through the middle states, in private hands."
During his career Ames painted many members of the New York State legislature and retired comfortably on his savings built up during his prolific career, primarily between 1800 and 1820. In fact he became known unofficially as the (official) New York State portrait painter. Ames was an active freemason, which brought him a number of commissions from his fellows.
Ames served as chairman of the Fine Arts Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts in 1805, and was also President of the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank of Albany.
He died in 1836 and is buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery
(Lot 1 Section 59). Ames was posthumously elected an honorary member of the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York City.
Ames had three children, two of whom followed him into the business; Angelo Ames and Julius Rubens Ames (1801-1850).
Image:Joseph Brant by Ezra Ames.jpg|Portrait of Joseph Brant
Image:Simeon De Witt.png|Portrait of Simeon De Witt
Image:Gideon Granger.jpg|Portrait of Gideon Granger
Image:Solomon Townsend by Ezra Ames.JPG|Portrait of Solomon Townsend
Image:Alexander Hamilton by Ezra Ames.jpg|Portrait of Alexander Hamilton
Image:Benjamin Tallmadge by Ezra Ames.JPG|Benjamin Tallmadge
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
painter in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. More than 700 portraits have been attributed to him.
He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham, Massachusetts
Framingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
in 1768. He moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, in 1790, and married Zipporah Wood in 1794. Some time later he moved to Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
where he painted a number of prominent people, including early portraits of Governor George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
and Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
.
It is not known whether Ames was formally trained or not, but his work had a popular appeal. In addition to portraits and landscapes, Ames' surviving accounts books indicated he painted miniatures, carriages, fire buckets, fences, mirror frames, and furniture.
Ames painted a number of still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
s, landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
s, and history paintings, and was skilled at engraving. The Chautauqan Magazine describes his importance in this way; "(he) was the most noted portraitist in the state, outside New York city. The sure and fluent ease of his brush, his keen characterization, his pure, fresh coloring, are all remarkable for this early period. His portrait of Governor George Clinton
George Clinton (British politician)
Admiral of the Fleet The Hon. George Clinton was a British naval officer and political leader who served as the colonial governor of Newfoundland in 1731 and of New York from 1743 to 1753....
, exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy in 1812, won him wide notice; but he did delightful work some years earlier, and many even finer canvases are scattered through the middle states, in private hands."
During his career Ames painted many members of the New York State legislature and retired comfortably on his savings built up during his prolific career, primarily between 1800 and 1820. In fact he became known unofficially as the (official) New York State portrait painter. Ames was an active freemason, which brought him a number of commissions from his fellows.
Ames served as chairman of the Fine Arts Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts in 1805, and was also President of the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank of Albany.
He died in 1836 and is buried at the Albany Rural Cemetery
Albany Rural Cemetery
The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Menands, New York, just outside of the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the United States, at over . Many historical American figures are buried there.-History:On April 2,...
(Lot 1 Section 59). Ames was posthumously elected an honorary member of the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York City.
Ames had three children, two of whom followed him into the business; Angelo Ames and Julius Rubens Ames (1801-1850).
Paintings by Ezra Ames
Image:Joseph Brant by Ezra Ames.jpg|Portrait of Joseph Brant
Joseph Brant
Thayendanegea or Joseph Brant was a Mohawk military and political leader, based in present-day New York, who was closely associated with Great Britain during and after the American Revolution. He was perhaps the most well-known American Indian of his generation...
Image:Simeon De Witt.png|Portrait of Simeon De Witt
Simeon De Witt
Simeon De Witt was Geographer and Surveyor General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and Surveyor General of the State of New York for the fifty years from 1784 until his death.-Life:He was one of fourteen children of physician Dr...
Image:Gideon Granger.jpg|Portrait of Gideon Granger
Gideon Granger
Gideon Granger was an early American politician and lawyer. He was the father of Francis Granger.Born in Suffield, Connecticut, Granger attended and graduated from Yale University and became a lawyer. He was considered a brilliant political essayist...
Image:Solomon Townsend by Ezra Ames.JPG|Portrait of Solomon Townsend
Solomon Townsend
Solomon Townsend was a merchant ship’s captain prior to the American Revolution, owned an ironworks in New York State, and was a representative to the New York State Legislature. Stranded in London following the outbreak of hostilities, Townsend's passage back to America was facilitated by...
Image:Alexander Hamilton by Ezra Ames.jpg|Portrait of Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
Image:Benjamin Tallmadge by Ezra Ames.JPG|Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge
Benjamin Tallmadge was a member of the United States House of Representatives. His birth date is alternately listed as February 25, 1754....