Final answer:
Ralph Earl's portraits of Oliver and Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth and Elijah Boardman share similarities in the orderly world they portray and the details that reflect the subjects' social status and the cultural values of late 18th-century America.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the two portraits by Ralph Earl, several similarities can be observed that are characteristic of the artist's style and reflect aspects of the era during which he painted them. In both the 1801 portrait of Oliver and Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth and the 1789 portrait of Elijah Boardman, Earl places his subjects within an orderly world. This is a stylistic trait that suggests a calm and controlled environment, echoing the values of the late 18th-century American society.
The details within each portrait, such as the furniture, clothing, and poses of the sitters, are indicative of the subjects' social status and personal attributes. For instance, the attire of the subjects is elegant and suggests prosperity, which could point to their social standing during the 1790s. Earl's attention to these elements not only portrays the sitters in a favorable light but also serves as a visual document of the time's fashion and domestic interiors.
Moreover, the composition of the portraits, with subjects often posed with books or other objects of intellectual or cultural significance, reflects the values that were appreciated in the period, such as education and refinement. Thus, these portraits by Ralph Earl not only capture the likeness of the sitters but also communicate broader cultural values of America in the late 18th century.