Josiah Ingersoll, Master-Warden of the Port of New York 1751 - 1849

This portrait of Josiah Ingersoll, Master-Warden of the Port of New York, was made with pastel on paper by James Sharples. Sharples was an English painter who worked in both England and America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Here, Sharples presents Ingersoll in a straightforward, unembellished manner, typical of portraits in the early American Republic, with simple dress and a direct gaze. Ingersoll’s role as Master-Warden was crucial for regulating maritime activities in New York, reflecting the city's growing importance as a commercial hub. Portraits like these served to reinforce the social standing of the sitter, while also representing the civic ideals of the newly formed nation. To understand this work better, we can explore archival records of the Port of New York and biographical information about Ingersoll and Sharples. Through this type of research, we can uncover the economic, political, and cultural dynamics that shaped artistic production during this period.