Portrait of Benjamin S. Judah

Ralph Earl was a self-taught, itinerant portrait painter, the son of a farmer. A Loyalist, he fled to England during the American Revolution. When he returned to the United States in 1785, he soon ended up in prison because of nonpayment of debts. When he was released, a wealthy patron helped him get commissions as a society portrait painter. He is credited with painting at least 183 portraits.