Collections record Beta

Oil Painting - Nicholas Shelton Masters (1759-1796)

1924-02-1

Oil on canvas portrait of Nicholas Shelton Masters, (1759-1796), 3/4 length image of a man seated, facing right, in a red upholstered side chair, his hands on his lap holding a letter. Receding brown hair tied in back and brown eyes. Wears a blue jacket with brass buttons, white waistcoat, ruffled white shirt, black bow tie, white breeches, with buckles. To the left a red drapery, to the right an open window w/landscape.

SITTER: Nicholas Shelton Masters, (1759-1796) was born in Washington, CT the son of James and Eunice (Rogers) Masters. He graduated from Yale in 1779, studied law with Daniel Orcutt, admitted to the bar in 1785, and became a lawyer in New Milford. He represented New Milford in General Assembly 1792-94. He married Hannah Starr (1760-1781) who died while giving birth to their son, William Starr Masters, (1781-1804). He married for a second time to Tamar Taylor, (1758-1842) and had a daughter, Susan Masters (1793-1849). See 1942-02-2 for companion portrait of his second wife, Tamar Taylor. ARTIST: Ralph Earl was born in Worcester County, Massachusetts to a family of farmers and craftsmen. A Loyalist, Earl refused to fight during the Revolutionary War, eventually fleeing to England and leaving his wife and children. In England, Earl studied in the studio of well-known American artist and expatriate Benjamin West. He returned to America after the war with a new wife and established himself as a portraitist in New York. Alcoholism and growing debt landed Earl in prison from 1786 to 1788. With the aid of New York patrons, he regained his freedom through portrait commissions and settled in Connecticut. His straightforward portraits and occasional landscapes are noted for highlighting the achievements and material wealth of his Connecticut clientele.

• Earl, Ralph, 1751-1801

1796

Painting: 48 1/4" x 36"; Frame: 50 3/4" x 38 1/2"

• oil
• canvas