Ezra Ames

Ezra Ames (May 5, 1768 – February 23, 1836) was a popular portrait painter in Albany, New York, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. More than 700 portraits have been attributed to him.

Life and career He was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1768. He moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1790, and married Zipporah Wood in 1794. Some time later he moved to Albany, New York, where he painted a number of prominent people, including early portraits of Governor George Clinton and Alexander Hamilton.

It is not known whether Ames was formally trained or not, but his work had a popular appeal. In addition to portraits and landscapes, Ames' surviving accounts books indicated he painted miniatures, carriages, fire buckets, fences, mirror frames, and furniture.

During his career Ames painted many members of the New York State legislature and retired comfortably on his savings built up during his prolific career, Ames was an active freemason, which brought him a number of commissions from his fellows.

Ames served as chairman of the Fine Arts Committee of the Society for the Promotion of Useful Arts in 1805, and was also President of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank of Albany.

Paintings by Ezra Ames