Ralph Eleazer Whiteside Earl Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Ralph Eleazer Whiteside Earl Art Value Price Guide

May. 02, 2023
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (1788-1838) Portrait of David Rittenhouse (1732-1796) with Clock and Book
Est: $10,000 - $20,000
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (1788-1838) Portrait of David Rittenhouse (1732-1796) with Clock and Book Inscribed on verso, "David Rittenhouse, Philadelphia, R. Earl, pinxt," oil on canvas, framed. (24 1/4 in. x 19 in. (sight)) Qty: (1) Provenance By tradition, Esther Rittenhouse Sergeant Barton (1780-1870), the grand-daughter of David Rittenhouse, to the present owner. Note Rittenhouse is considered by many to have been the greatest American scientist of his day. Primarily self-taught, he became an internationally known astronomer, maker of highly prized scientific instruments, time pieces, and solar system models. Though never physically well, Rittenhouse surveyed the Pennsylvania borders with Delaware, Maryland, New York and New Jersey, completed the Mason-Dixon line, and the disputed border between Massachusetts and New York. A fervent patriot, Rittenhouse served on the Committee of Safety, Pennsylvania Assembly, Constitutional Convention of 1776, and Board of War during the Revolutionary War. Later he became Treasurer of Pennsylvania, 1792-1795 and the first director of the United States Mint. Rittenhouse taught himself a number of languages and served the University of Pennsylvania as a professor, vice provost and trustee. He was elected member of the American Philosophical Society in 1768 and served as its president. Six months after his death, Rittenhouse was eulogized by Dr. Benjamin Rush with the United States Senate and House, both houses of the Pennsylvania legislature, George and Martha Washington, trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, College of Physicians, numerous religious, civic leaders in attendance. For years, as evidenced by the brass plaque attached to the frame, this portrait was thought to have been the work of Ralph Earl, Sr. (1751-1801). It is registered in the Catalog of American Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute with Earl, Sr. as the artist. The portrait is now attributed to Earl's son, Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl. Stylistically dissimilar to the work of Earl, Sr.-- the artist also never signed a portrait on the verso. Though the prolific artist Earl, Jr. did not often sign his work, there are several examples signed, "R. Earl pinxt" on the verso. Ralph E.W. Earl is best known for his many portraits of Andrew Jackson. Earl was a life-long friend and confidant to Jackson. He settled in Nashville,Tennessee, traveled with Jackson and lived in Washington, D.C. during the Jackson presidency. He also involved himself in the cultural enrichment of Nashville. Enthralled with the famous Philadelphia Museum of Charles Willson Peale, R.E.W. Earl established a similar institution, The Tennessee Museum, dedicated to educating the public in art, great men and natural history, in 1817 and served as its president until 1827. Earl was probably familiar with the portrait of Rittenhouse in Peale's Museum, as well as the sitter's scientific and patriotic significance. See: Rachel E. Stephens, "Curious Men and Their Curiosities: Ralph E. W. Earl's Nashville Museum and the Precedent of Charles Willson Peale," Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal (2018), Vol. 16., No. 3., pg. 545-577. 31 1/2 in. x 26 in. (frame); not relined, two patches to verso,
Freeman's | Hindman
Jan. 28, 2023
AJ DONELSON'S INVITATION TO LAFAYETTE BALL IN NASHVILLE 1825, DES. BY RALPH EARL
Est: $500 - $600
Engraved invitation to the Ball held in Nashville, Tennessee in 1825 to welcome Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de La Fayette, General Gilbert du Motier (1757-1834) on his tour of the United States. The invitation, designed by artist Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (Tennessee/Connecticut/England, 1788-1838), is addressed to Andrew Jackson Donelson (1799-1871), nephew and private secretary to President Andrew Jackson. Dated April 7, 1825, the invitation includes the names of several prominent "managers" of the event, enclosed within a decorative arch, flanked by busts of then-General Jackson and La Fayette on columns emblazoned with names of Revolutionary War battles, and surmounted by a larger bust of George Washington surrounded by clouds and patriotic motifs with the words "WELCOME LA FAYETTE", top. Artist and engraver name C.C. Torrey, lower left and right below image. Label for The Veerhof Galleries, Washington, D.C., en verso of frame. Housed under double-sided glass in a giltwood frame. Sight: 7 3/8" H x 4 7/8" W. Framed: 8 1/2" H x 6" W. Note: In 1777, the then 19-year old Marquis de La Fayette left his home in France to join America's fight for independence. His assistance proved greatly consequential, and in 1824, President James Monroe asked Lafayette to revisit the United States as the "Nation's Guest". His celebratory tour was remembered as "a triumphal march to which there had never been a parallel in the history of the nation" (Wilkins Tannehill, The Port Folio, Nashville, 1848, p. 150). It included visits to more than 40 cities in 15 states, where he was greeted as a hero with parades and parties. "The Lafayette Ball", held May 5, was the social event of the year in Nashville. It was held at the Masonic Hall with three hundred guests in attendance and, according to period accounts, included a lavish dinner and dancing. After being toasted by the ladies, Lafayette is said to have toasted them in return saying "Tennessee Beauty - equal to Tennessee Valor." (Source: Ann Harwell Wells, Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1, 1975). The designer of this rare invitation, artist Ralph Earl, was Andrew Jackson's confidante, relative by marriage, and "court painter" during his eight years in the White House (1829-1837). In this capacity Earl produced numerous likenesses of the seventh president and his social circle. Note: This particular invitation is discussed in "Selling Andrew Jackson: Ralph E. W. Earl and the Politics of Portraiture" by Rachel Stephens, published by the University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, 2018, p. 66.
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jan. 28, 2023
COLLECTION OF 8 EARLY TN & NC DOCS, INCL. JAMES WINCHESTER, STOCKLEY DONELSON, JOHNSON-PILLOW FAMILY
Est: $600 - $700
1st item: One-page handwritten letter from the "Founder of Memphis" General James Winchester (1752-1826), Cragfont, Castalian Springs, TN, addressed to artist Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (1788-1838), Nashville, TN, dated May 31, 1817. The letter references an impending visit by Earl, spelled "Earle" to Cragfont, reading "General Winchester presents his respects to Mr. Earle and informs him that a [waggon] will be instructed to collect at the Nashville Inn in the course of next week with a view to bring to this place any Box; trunk or the like which Mr. Earle may wish to send ("to this place" crossed out)" with location and date, lower right. Address reading "Mr. Earle Nashville," en verso. Note: Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl was Andrew Jackson's "court painter" during his presidency, from 1829 to 1837, and also painted portraits of other prominent individuals. 2nd item: Williamson County, Tennessee Circuit Court bifolium record document, primarily recording deed and land grants, including one (1) dated August 13, 1797 recording land deeds between Colonel Stockley Donelson (1752-1805), brother of Rachel Donelson (wife of President Andrew Jackson), and others, and one (2) dated November 9, 1801 recording land deeds between Captain John Donelson (1755-1830) and others. Ink inscription, en verso. Includes a fragment of a printed paper with legal terms and their definitions. 3rd item: Johnson-Pillow Family land indenture, made between Gideon Johnson, Jr. (1754-1843) of Rockingham County, North Carolina and his nephew Mordecai Pillow (ca. 1776-1837) of Williamson County, Tennessee and Elisha Begley (spelled Bagly) (1776-1858) of Williamson County, TN, in which Johnson and Pillow grant Begley 440 acres of land in Lincoln County in consideration for Begley's payment of one thousand and one hundred dollars, signed by Johnson and Pillow with additional witness signatures, dated January 24, 1814. Additional inscriptions, en verso. Note: Gideon Johnson, Jr. served in the American Revolutionary War as a private in July 1776 under Captain John Armstrong of Surry County, NC and Lt. Joseph Tate of Guilford County, NC. His nephew, Mordecai Pillow, was the son of his sister Mary Ursula Johnson (1751-1822/1830) and fellow Revolutionary War soldier John Pillow (1745-1793). One of his brothers, Gideon Pillow (1774-1830), was the father of Gideon Johnson Pillow (1806-1878), United States Army major general of volunteers during the Mexican-American War and Confederate brigadier general in the American Civil War. 4th item: Corporation of Nashville License issued to J. A. Hough, a silversmith, granting him the right to "...Vend Merchandise within the Corporation aforesaid for the term of one year ensuing the date hereof..." in recognition of his payment of $200, witnessed by E. A. Raworth, and signed by Williamson Hartley Horn as Mayor of Nashville, dated January 1, 1854. Note: Williamson Hartley Horn (1799-1870) was an American Masonic leader and Whig politician. He served as the Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee from 1853 to 1854. 5th item: Robert Houston, First Sheriff of Knox County from 1792-1802, signed "Territory South of Ohio" bail bond ordering James Mullican, Jr. to appear at the courthouse in Knoxville on the fifth Monday of May next to answer for damages done onto John Hill, witnessed and dated May 25, 1794. Signed and inscribed by Robert Houston, en verso. 6th item: Andrew Ewing, Revolutionary War Veteran and the first County Court Clerk for the Cumberland Territory, signed sheriff summons regarding a financial matter between James Ross and Samuel Shannon, ordering the sheriff to appear with the funds on the second Monday in April, signed by Andrew Ewing and dated Monday, January 2, 1795. Additional inscriptions, including one (1) reading "Andrew Jackson 40" with N. P. Hardeman, Sheriff of Davidson County signatures, en verso. 7th item: Fragmentary bond document between John Montgomery, Elijah Robinson, and James Alen(?) of Davidson County, NC and Frederich Rohrer of Washington County, Maryland, stating that the aforementioned individuals will deliver one thousand one hundred and thirty-six and a half pounds of goods and merchandise on or before May 1, 1787 to Rohrer, signed and witnessed and dated October 6, 1786. Ink inscriptions, en verso. 8th item: Washington County, TN Justice of the Peace document stating that John Harden has paid "...thirty squirrel sculps..." as ordered, dated July 12, 1796 and illegibly signed Jacob Stay(?).
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Jan. 01, 2020
Attributed To Ralph Earl (1788-1838)
Est: $4,000 - $5,000
Attributed to Ralph Earl (Tennessee, Connecticut, England 1788-1838), portrait of girl with dog. Oil on canvas. 42 1/2" x 36".
Copake Auction Inc.
Jul. 14, 2018
Portrait of Mr. Stanton att. Ralph Earl or John Grimes
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Oil on canvas portrait of Joseph Blackwell Stanton (1787-1860), founder of Stanton, Tennessee, likely painted while he was living in Maury or Haywood County, TN in the 1820s-30s, attributed to Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (1788-1838) or John C. Grimes (1804-1837). The middle aged subject is depicted wearing a black jacket and tie, and holding a flute or other wind instrument; in the background is a valley with hills or mountaintops rising up on either side and a river or clouds below. Original wide molded wood frame with later painted surface. 29 3/4" H x 23 7/8" W canvas, 37" H x 31" W frame. Provenance: Consignor is a direct descendant of Joseph Blackwell Stanton, a Culpepper, Virginia born man who lived for a time in Georgia, South Carolina and Maury County, Tennessee, before settling with his family on 6,000 acres in Haywood County, Tennessee by 1833. (More history on Stanton available on request). Note: according to oral family history, the landscape in the background depicts the Smoky Mountains, possibly Lindsey Gap between Cosby and Blufton. The frame was said to have been hand made by slaves on the Stanton plantation. Ref. The Tennessee Portrait Project, #1926. This portrait has long been attributed to Ralph Earl, but also bears some similarities to portraits by John Grimes, a Huntsville, Alabama painter whose early style is not unlike Earl's. The Kentucky-born Grimes trained with Matthew Jouett and came to Nashville in about 1829, the same time Earl was departing for Washington, DC with his friend Andrew Jackson, who had been elected President. Grimes seems to have stepped in to Earl's role as the "go-to" painter for wealthy Middle Tennesseans desiring to have their likenesses painted, until his untimely death in 1837. (Source: Edward Pattillo, Alabama Heritage, No. 63, Winter 2002) Ralph E.W. Earl studied under his father (also named Ralph Earl) in Northhampton, Massachusetts, before traveling to London in 1809 to study under Benjamin West and John Trumbull. In 1817, Earl arrived in Nashville to paint General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans. Later that year, in Natchez, he met and married Jane Caffrey, Rachel Jackson's niece. She died the next year, but Earl moved into the Hermitage and would from then on remain in Jackson's circle, accompanying the newly elected president to Washington. During the next eight years, Earl turned out numerous paintings of Jackson, and politicians, especially Democrats, knew it "did not hurt to order a portrait of General Jackson from Earl." He painted many of Jacksonís friends and a few of his foes. Earl returned to the Hermitage with Jackson in 1837 and died there in September 1838. (Source: James C. Kelly, Virginia Historical Society, Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 1998). CONDITION: Lined; narrow area of paint loss 1 3/8" x 1/8" at right center edge of canvas (not visible when framed). Areas of overpainting to hair at top of head, lapels of coat, and left sleeve. See black light image. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Sep. 16, 2017
Ralph E. W. Earl (TN/CT, 1788-1838), Portrait of Andrew Jackson
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
watercolor on ivory, monogrammed at center right R.E.W.E., presented under glass in a later silvered composition frame. Image 4 1/8 x 3 1/16 in.; DOA 6.75 x 5.75 in. This miniature portrait is a copy of the 1825 portrait of Andrew Jackson painted by the Kentucky artist Aaron H. Corwine. Corwine painted Jackson in March of 1825 while he and his wife, Rachel, were visiting in Cincinnati, OH following his unsuccessful Presidential bid against John Quincy Adams. Jackson and Corwine chose to emphasize Jackson's ties to the western frontier by depicting him in a heavy overcoat with fur collar. From the Estate of Mr. Manuel Bustillo, New York, NY (acquired circa 1950s - 1960s) By descent to Mr. Bustillo's nephew Manuel Bustillo, New York, NY (art broker) circa 1950s-1960s Additional high-resolution photos are available at LelandLittle.com
Leland Little Auctions
Aug. 05, 2017
Pair of Ralph Earl Tennessee Portraits
Est: $12,000 - $14,000
Pair of Tennessee portraits by Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (1788-1838), unsigned, oil on canvas, depicting Thomas Claiborne Jr. (b. Petersburg, Virginia, 1780- d. Nashville, Tennessee ,1856) in white linen shirt with tie, waistcoat and brass buttoned coat and a woman, likely his wife Sarah Lewis King Claiborne (1786-1867); in lace bonnet with yellow and purple ribbon and emerald green dress. Both housed in original matching 19th century gilt wood and composition slope-molding frames with corner leaf and scroll decoration, European, one with original framer's label verso. Both portraits measure: Sight - 29 1/2" H x 24 1/2" W. Framed - 42" H x 37" W. Circa 1825. Provenance: Descended in the Claiborne Family through Henry (Harry) Laurens Claiborne; sold to dealer Charles Elder of Nashville, Tennessee; sold to Dr. Benjamin Caldwell circa 1960s; acquired from the Caldwell auction in 2006 by a Maryville, TN collector. These portraits were exhibited at the Tennessee State Museum's Exhibit, "Portrait Painting in Tennessee," in 1988 and are illustrated and discussed in the catalog of the same name (ref. The Tennessee Historical Quarterly, winter 1987, p. 210). They have also been exhibited at Cheekwood Fine Arts Center in Nashville (dates unknown). Note: Thomas A. Claiborne served as a major on Andrew Jackson's staff during the Creek War and in the Tennessee House of Representatives for two terms, 1811-1815 and 1831-1833. He became a U.S. Representative to Congress for Tennessee 1817-1819. Claiborne was also a Mason, and served as Grand Master of Tennessee from 1813-1814. Biography (Courtesy of James C. Kelly, Virginia Historical Society, Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 1998): Ralph E. W. Earl was the son of Connecticut painter Ralph Earl (1751-1801). Earl studied under his father in Northhampton, Massachusetts, before traveling to London in 1809 to study under Benjamin West and John Trumbull. In 1817, Earl arrived in Nashville to paint General Andrew Jackson, the hero of the battle of New Orleans. Later that year, in Natchez, he met and married Jane Caffrey, Rachel Jackson's niece. She died the next year, but Earl moved into the Hermitage and would from then on remain in Jackson's circle, accompanying the newly elected president to Washington. During the next eight years, Earl turned out numerous paintings of Jackson. Politicians, especially Democrats, knew it "did not hurt to order a portrait of General Jackson from Earl." He painted many of Jacksons friends and a few of his foes. Earl returned to the Hermitage with Jackson in 1837 and died there in September 1838. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com)
Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals
Sep. 15, 2012
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (AM, 1788-1838)
Est: $3,000 - $5,000
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl (American/Tennessee, 1788-1838), "Portrait Miniature of Andrew Jackson, after Aaron H. Corwine (1802-1830)", 1836, watercolor, initialed "R.E.W.E" and dated upper mid-right, 4 1/4 in. x 3 1/4 in., period wood and gilt frame Note: The miniature by Ralph E.W. Earl is a copy after the 1825 painting of Andrew Jackson by Kentucky artist Aaron H. Corwine. The Corwine portrait was painted in late March 1825 during Andrew and Rachel Jackson's four day visit to Cincinnati, Ohio. The Jacksons were making a bittersweet trip home to the Hermitage after his narrow loss for presidency to John Quincy Adams. The fur collar alluded to Jackson as a westerner and frontierman. Ralph E.W. Earl, who received continous requests for images of the Seventh U.S. President and Hero of the Battle of New Orleans, apparently painted a pair of minatures of Andrew Jackson in 1836; one after Samuel Lovett Waldo's circa 1819 portrait and the other after Aaron H. Corwine's 1825 portrait.Both miniatures are similiar size and were placed in matching carved walnut frame.Ref: Barber, James G., Andrew Jackson: A Portrait Study, National Portrait Gallery, 1991 Please Note: Starting Bid USD $2000
Neal Auction Company
Jan. 20, 2006
RALPH E. W. EARL (1785-1838), DATED 1804
Est: $25,000 - $30,000
A Pair of Double Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel (Martha) Ruggles Each signed and dated 'R. Earl Pinxt, 1804' (reverse of canvas) oil on canvas 50 3/4 x 41 1/4 inches each (2)
Christie's