[1799 ALS to American Historical Painter and Portraitist Ralph Earle seeking His Tuition of Young Artist, William Southgate].

“The Art of Painting and Drawing &c.”

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1799 letter of introduction addressed to American historical painter and portraitist Ralph Earle (1751–1801) and written by John Southgate of Leicester, Massachusetts.

Ralph Earle is celebrated for his “Scenes of the Battle of Lexington”—four iconic paintings later engraved on copper by Amos Doolittle and published in 1775. The DAB notes that they were “among the first historical paintings to be produced in this country.”

John Southgate wants Earle to instruct his 17 year-old son, William Southgate (1782–1811) who is “Very Desirous to obtain an opportunity to spend some time under your Tuition in in the Art of Painting and Drawing &c.” at least “long enough to satisfy your self and him whether it is worth his while to endeavour to obtain your Art…”

Like Earle, William Southgate became a portraitist. He studied with Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) and he was remotely related to Ralph Earle.¹  John Southgate alludes to this family relationship in his unsubtle postscript: “P.S. Some of your Friends suppose my son has so much Earle Blood in him that he will not fail of making himself master of your Art if he applyes himself to it.”

Earle had fled to London during the American Revolution per his Loyalist sympathies. He studied under American expatriate artist Benjamin West (1738–1820) and was made a member of the Royal Academy, painting the king and other nobles. Earle returned to America in 1785. He was imprisoned for debt in New York. To secure Earle’s release, Alexander Hamilton had his own wife, along with other women, sit for Earle in his cell for their portraits.

Southgate’s letter associates two American portraitists who were themselves connected to the luminaries and portraitists Benjamin West and Gilbert Stuart.

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