Isaac Sheffield: Portraits from New London’s Whaling Era

This exhibition, the first to focus on the work of artist Isaac Sheffield, examines his portraits and portrait miniatures of the 1830s and 1840s, a time of growth, innovation, and change at the height of New London’s whaling era.

Born in Guilford, Connecticut at the turn of the 19th century, Isaac Sheffield, Jr.  painted portraits and portrait miniatures until his death in 1845, documenting New London whaling captains and their families along with other members of the community. Featuring landscape and maritime views, these portraits hold intriguing clues to his sitters’ professions, education, and accomplishments, as well as their values and familial connections.

Portraits from New London’s Whaling Era brings together paintings from various regional public and private collections, illuminating this long-overlooked artist’s contributions to regional art and history and to American portraiture more broadly.