Lot Essay
Ralph Earl's portrait of Roger Sherman (1721-1793) was commissioned in 1775 to commemorate Sherman's participation as a member of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
Born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1721, Sherman moved to New Milford, Connecticut upon the death of his father and served as an apprentice to a cobbler and eventually became a wealthy landowner. In 1755, Sherman was admitted to the bar and in 1768 he received an honorary degree from Yale College. From 1768 until 1776, he was treasurer of the college. In 1774, he went to Philadelphia as a member of the Continental Congress where he signed the Articles of Association. Later, as a member of the Congresional Committee, Sherman helped draft the Declaration of Independence which he also signed. From 1776-1777, Sherman debated the Articles of Confederation and in 1787 he participated in the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention.
The origianl portrait of Roger Sherman by Ralph Earl is now in the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut. For further information, see Kornhauser, Ralph Earl, The Face of the Young Republic (New Haven, Connecticut, 1991).
Born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1721, Sherman moved to New Milford, Connecticut upon the death of his father and served as an apprentice to a cobbler and eventually became a wealthy landowner. In 1755, Sherman was admitted to the bar and in 1768 he received an honorary degree from Yale College. From 1768 until 1776, he was treasurer of the college. In 1774, he went to Philadelphia as a member of the Continental Congress where he signed the Articles of Association. Later, as a member of the Congresional Committee, Sherman helped draft the Declaration of Independence which he also signed. From 1776-1777, Sherman debated the Articles of Confederation and in 1787 he participated in the Philadelphia Constitutional Convention.
The origianl portrait of Roger Sherman by Ralph Earl is now in the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut. For further information, see Kornhauser, Ralph Earl, The Face of the Young Republic (New Haven, Connecticut, 1991).