Collections record Beta

Oil on Paper - "Philo Ruggles"

2014-28-1

Oil on paper folk portrait of Philo Ruggles (1765-1829). Sitter is a younger gentleman shown from the waist up. Subject has brown hair just past his ears. He wears a brown jacket with light blue waistcoat, white shirt, and white cravat. The portrait is executed on a piece of folded laid paper - likely from an 18th century account book. A thin varnish covers the face of the subject.

The Litchfield Historical Society also has in its collection a portrait of Philo Ruggles painted by Ralph Earl (1917-04-6) and a cut paper silhouette (1918-03-19).

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: The artist of this portrait, Reuben Brownson, like Ruggles lived in New Milford, CT. Ruggles and Brownson both belonged to St. Peter's Masonic Lodge in New Milford. Brownson was a local joiner.

• Brownson, Reuben

Late 18th century

Height 12.75"; Width 8"

• paper
• oil
• ink