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Elijah Boardman

Elijah Boardman

Ralph Earl
(American, Worcester County, Massachusetts 1751–1801 Bolton, Connecticut)

Date: 1789
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 83 x 51 in. (210.8 x 129.5 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Bequest of Susan W. Tyler, 1979
Accession Number: 1979.395
On view in Gallery 755
Description Object Information Related Objects Online Resources Video Audio
Earl portrayed the richly dressed dry goods merchant Elijah Boardman (1760–1823) in his store in New Milford, Connecticut. His right hand rests on a counting desk protected and decorated by green cloth secured with brass nails. The shelves of the desk house books, including Moore's "Travels," Shakespeare's plays, Milton's "Paradise Lost," Johnson's dictionary, and the "London Magazine" for 1786. Through the open paneled door to the right of the subject, bolts of plain and patterned textiles, including one with a prominently displayed British tax stamp, invite inspection and tell the viewer how Boardman earned a living, just as the books in his desk and the letter in his hand speak of his learning and awareness of culture. Earl also painted Esther Boardman, sister to Elijah (1991.338).
  • Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

    Signature: [at lower left]: R. Earl pinxt 1789

  • Provenance

    By descent, Cornelius Boardman Tyler, Plainfield, New Jersey, died 1955; Mrs. Cornelius Boardman (Susan W.) Tyler, Fairfield, New Jersey, died 1979

Some related objects from the collection
Esther Boardman

Esther Boardman
Ralph Earl
(American, Worcester County, Massachusetts 1751–1801 Bolton, Connecticut)
Date: 1789
Medium: Oil on canvas
Accession Number: 1991.338
On view in Gallery 755

Lady Williams and Child

Lady Williams and Child
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(American, Worcester County, Massachusetts 1751–1801 Bolton, Connecticut)
Date: 1783
Medium: Oil on canvas
Accession Number: 06.179
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Marinus Willett

Marinus Willett
Ralph Earl
(American, Worcester County, Massachusetts 1751–1801 Bolton, Connecticut)
Date: ca. 1791
Medium: Oil on canvas
Accession Number: 17.87.1
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Master Rees Goring Thomas

Master Rees Goring Thomas
Attributed to Ralph Earl
(American, Worcester County, Massachusetts 1751–1801 Bolton, Connecticut)
Date: ca. 1783–84
Medium: Oil on canvas
Accession Number: 15.30.35
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Mrs. Noah Smith and Her Children

Mrs. Noah Smith and Her Children
Ralph Earl
(American, Worcester County, Massachusetts 1751–1801 Bolton, Connecticut)
Date: 1798
Medium: Oil on canvas
Accession Number: 64.309.1
On view in Gallery 755

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