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Ralph Izard, 1742-1804
South Carolina planter Ralph Izard is seen here at the age of twelve, just before his departure for England to begin his formal education. He had recently inherited his family estate, the Elms, upon the death of both parents. In 1776, Izard and his wife, Alice DeLancey, moved to Paris, where he assisted in diplomatic efforts and in securing funding to build ships for the war against England. Returning to Charleston with his family after the Revolution, Izard was a member of the Continental Congress and served as one of South Carolina's first United States senators. A defender of the institution of slavery and an architect of the federal court system, Izard was also one of the founders of the College of Charleston.
This rare full-length portrait by Jeremiah Theus shows how successfully the Swiss-born artist had mastered the poses and settings of English portraiture after settling in Charleston.
by Jeremiah Theus, 1754 |