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In many of his portraits in watercolor, Ellsworth included imaginative, aureole clouds at the base of the figures. He also included similar stylized, cloud-like formations around the heads and shoulders of the subjects, thus providing an effective contrast between the figures and the light background.
From Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, "Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association," Cooperstown: NYSHA, 1987, p. 72.
Exhibition History"The Paintings of James Sanford Ellsworth, Itinerant Folk Artist, 1802-1873," Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, Williamsburg, VA, October 13, 1974 - December 1, 1974.
“Folk Art from the Collection of the New York State Historical Association,” Museum of American Folk Art, NY, January 11, 2000 – February 18, 2000.
ProvenanceFrederick Fairchild Sherman, Westport, Connecticut; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lipman, Wilton, Connecticut; Mr. Stephen C. Clark, Sr., Cooperstown, New York
Bibliography "Artists by Nature: American Art in the Folk Tradition" [exhibition catalog]. New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY: 43, and numbers 79 and 80, and figures 79 and 80 on page 43.
D'Ambrosio, Paul S. and Charlotte M. Emans, "Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association," Cooperstown, NY: NYSHA, 1987, pp.72-73, illus. as 37 on p. 72.
![Martha C. Parkins [Perkins?]](/internal/media/dispatcher/4619/thumbnail)
Artist
James Sanford Ellsworth
(1802 - 1874)
Red Hair Gentleman and His Wife
Datec. 1850
MediumWatercolor on laid paper
DimensionsSight: 3 × 2 3/4 in. (7.6 × 7 cm)
Object numberN0067.1961a-b
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextEllsworth's skill in drawing faces is illustrated in these portraits. Personality is suggested through delicate modeling and a sensitive use of color. Ellsworth probably spent most of his time and attention working on faces, as the bodies and hands of his subjects are less skillfully rendered and in a more stylized manner. Unusually large, glove-like hands often appear in his miniatures as he struggled to represent their correct proportion and form. Ellsworth tried to solve this problem by portraying his subjects holding books, flowers and occasionally fans, and by including only one of the sitter's hands.In many of his portraits in watercolor, Ellsworth included imaginative, aureole clouds at the base of the figures. He also included similar stylized, cloud-like formations around the heads and shoulders of the subjects, thus providing an effective contrast between the figures and the light background.
From Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, "Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association," Cooperstown: NYSHA, 1987, p. 72.
Exhibition History"The Paintings of James Sanford Ellsworth, Itinerant Folk Artist, 1802-1873," Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, Williamsburg, VA, October 13, 1974 - December 1, 1974.
“Folk Art from the Collection of the New York State Historical Association,” Museum of American Folk Art, NY, January 11, 2000 – February 18, 2000.
ProvenanceFrederick Fairchild Sherman, Westport, Connecticut; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lipman, Wilton, Connecticut; Mr. Stephen C. Clark, Sr., Cooperstown, New York
Bibliography "Artists by Nature: American Art in the Folk Tradition" [exhibition catalog]. New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, NY: 43, and numbers 79 and 80, and figures 79 and 80 on page 43.
D'Ambrosio, Paul S. and Charlotte M. Emans, "Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association," Cooperstown, NY: NYSHA, 1987, pp.72-73, illus. as 37 on p. 72.
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