John, Brewster Jnr. Paintings

John Brewster Jr. was an American itinerant artist, noted for his portraits of the American Northeastern coastal elite. He was born on May 30, 1766, in Hampton, Connecticut, into a family with a strong medical background. Brewster was a Deaf artist, which influenced his life and work profoundly. Despite his disability, which was significant at a time when there was little support for Deaf individuals, Brewster achieved a successful career as a portrait painter.

Brewster's artistic education and training background are not entirely clear, but it is known that he painted in a style similar to the well-known portraitists Ralph Earl and Jonathan Trumbull. His work is characterized by its simplicity and clarity, with subjects often portrayed with serene expressions and in elegant attire, reflecting the Federalist period in American history.

As an itinerant painter, Brewster traveled extensively, offering his services to wealthy patrons along the Eastern seaboard. His inability to hear or speak likely contributed to the sensitivity and expressive qualities of his portraits. His sitters, often children and family groups, are depicted with an attention to detail that suggests a deep sense of connection and empathy.

Brewster's work was in high demand, and he produced a large body of portraits during his lifetime. Today, his paintings are highly valued for their aesthetic qualities and as historical records of American society post-Independence.

Despite the challenges he faced, Brewster lived a long and productive life, continuing to paint until his death on August 13, 1854, in Buxton, Maine. His legacy endures in his art, which provides a window into the early American republic and the lives of its inhabitants. Brewster's work is now held in many prestigious collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the American Folk Art Museum in New York.