Joseph Alexander Ames

Joseph Alexander Ames (1816–1872), was an American artist, primarily known for portrait and genre painting. Originally named Joseph Emes, he was born in Roxbury, New Hampshire. Ames began painting at a young age. At the age of twelve Henry Theodore Tuckerman wrote about one of his paintings. After moderate success at home in Saugus, Massachusetts, he left for Boston in 1841. While in Boston, Ames tried to replicate the style of Washington Allston. In 1848, Ames traveled to Rome, where he painted a portrait of Pope Pius IX that was featured at the National Academy of Design's annual exhibition in 1850. When he returned from Italy he was commissioned by Rufus Choate, Daniel Webster, and Abraham Lincoln. Ames exhibited at the Boston Athenæum, the National Academy of Design, and the Pennsylvania Academy. He eventually moved to Baltimore, and then to New York, where he died of a "brain fever".

Ames was one of the founding Members of the Boston Art Club.

His brother Nathan was a poet and patent solicitor who invented many machines, including the escalator. His wife, Sarah Fisher Clampitt Ames was a sculptor.

References

cite book | title = Painting and Sculpture in the Collection of National Academy of Design
author = David B. Dearinger | publisher = Hudson Hills | date = 2004

cite book | title = The New England Magazine | author = Making of AmericaProject| publisher = New England Magazine Co. | date = 1885

External links

* [http://bostonartclub.com Boston Art Club]
* [http://www.askart.com/askart/a/joseph_alexander_ames/joseph_alexander_ames.aspx Askart.com page]