Collections record Beta

Oil Painting - Philo Ruggles (1765-1829)

1917-04-6

Oil on canvas portrait of Philo Ruggles (1765-1829) as a young man, seated in exterior setting with water and rolling valley in background. Dressed in brown jacket, yellow vest and black breeches. He is holding a flute in his right hand. Signed lower left, "R. earl Pinxt 1796" Retains its original frame.

This portrait has been exhibited at the Litchfield History Museum, the Gallery of Fine Arts at Yale University in 1935; the Whitney Museum of American Art, N.Y. in 1945; the Worcester Art Museum, Mass. in 1945; and The Hudson River Museum, N.Y. in 1995.

SITTER: Philo Ruggles (1765-1829) was born in New Milford, CT. He was the son of Lazarus and Hannah Ruggles and attended the Litchfield Law School in 1790. He established something of a family tradition for both his younger brother Herman and his son Henry would follow in his footsteps and later attend the Litchfield Law School. After being admitted to the Bar in 1791, Ruggles opened a law office in New Milford which he continued until the year 1804, when he removed to Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He continued to practice law until 1825, when he moved to the city of New York. He there resumed and continued the practice of his profession until his death, which took place in 1829, at the age of 64. He was elected to the CT General Assembly four times and was also a member for the county of Duchess, in the Legislature of New York. In 1803 and 1804 Ruggles was a member of the Committee of Examination for the Litchfield County Court admissions to the bar. 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

52 1/2" H x 39 3/16"

• canvas
• oil