Elijah Boardman 1789
Ralph Earl (1751-1801)
Oil on canvas; 83 x 51 in. (210.8 x 129.5 cm)

Description:
In this painting the richly dressed dry goods merchant Elijah Boardman (1760-1823) stands 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 lettter in his hand speak of his learning and awareness of culture. Earl also painted Esther Boardman, sister to Elijah (1991.338).