Ezra Ames (1768-1836), a famous American portraitist, was born in Massachusetts and worked as a furniture and carriage painter until 1790 when he decided to devote his talent to portraits exclusively. At the very first sight the picture “Mrs. Ephraim Baldwin” attracts the viewer’s attention due to the domination of dark colors. Also it would be rather well to note that only a single person is portrayed on the portrait which automatically focuses the observer’s concentration on the face of an aged woman called Mrs.
Ephraim Baldwin.The most interesting part of the portrait is her face expression that successfully matches her outfit. The artist succeeded to convey wisdom, inner wealth, and spirit of elderly female that casts a glance full of unexpressed insight. Her eyes are reflecting her life challenges and experience and lessons she most likely has been taught by her days.
It is being drastically intensified by the iridescence which stimulates the figment of imagination. If to take a closer look it would be possible to notice that the woman’s left eye is somewhat hidden and remains in the shade.This diminishes its size putting additional accent onto the right eye which carries pronounced notional load. Likewise, her entire left side is somewhat smaller and darker that the right one approaching the downward part of the picture itself. Moreover, Mrs. Ephraim Baldwin’s pose vividly tells about strictness and certain harshness of her character but still shows interest and concern for imaginative interlocutor.
Ezra Ames painted from the palette almost entirely consisting of • brown, • beige, • deep grey, and • black colors to create her “Mrs. Ephraim Baldwin”.It was a good choice of the artist to paint the woman’s outfit in black and thus bringing her face to the forefront. The background of the picture is painted in deep brown or almost black color that exaggerates the role of the woman and her key features indicated previously. These colors add to the overall mystique impression and mode of the picture itself.
Also, it is very important that Mrs. Ephrasim Baldwin face is enclosed into a ladies’ cap which is of light beige color with a touch of light grey and yellow shades. The same color has an arrow pointed upwards which is created by woman’s Eton collar and button ribbon.This also navigates viewer’s eyes towards the direction of her face, its distinct lines, and expression.
We may also notice that Mrs Ephraim Baldwin’s hands are hidden as they would probably take away necessary light from her face and distract the attentions of the observers. Color choice of Ezra Ames may be directly associated with the age of the woman as she is approximately 40-45 years old taking into consideration the fact that the lack of proper medical treatment and scientific innovations to great extend shortened life expectancy of 18th century people.The woman also bears the resemblance of a person who frequently visits church and is a faithful believer or a follower of a certain religion. Although the painting itself is undated and there is a lack of information on the personality of the woman and the creative purpose or intention of the picture, Ezra Ames is confident in that: I also do judge the whole world according to my own values and experience which is frequently reflected in my works and in “Mrs.
Ephraim Baldwin” especially… There is something special in her eyes – the main point of the portrait… (Main 1991).Referencehttp://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/a/ea.html
