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Ezra Ames was Albany's premier
portraitist for more than 40 years, with over 700 recorded pictures.
In addition, he painted occasional landscapes, still lifes, and history
pictures, and was active as an engraver as well. AIHA has the
largest holding of Ames's work, numbering 66 paintings and 27
miniatures.
The Fondey Family remains one of the artist's most ambitious works. John Fondey Jr. is shown with his wie Cornelia and their four children. Ames recorded the identities and ages of the subjects of the painting in an amazing piece of trompe l'oeil work, the curling paper in the upp right, which appears to hang down in front of the picture. John Fondey sold looking glasses, fiddles, china, glass and earthenware from a firm on Court Street in Albany. The Albany Institute collection contains a number of other pieces originally belonging to the Fondey family.
The Fondey Family
Ezra Ames (1768-1836)
Oil on canvas, 1803
AIHA Collection: Gift of Richard C and Marjorie D. Rockwell
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