Brief Biography-John Brewster was from Hampton, Connecticut, the third born of seven children. He was born a deaf mute and instructed in painting by a minister. In 1795, he joined his brother Dr Royal Brewster in Buxton, Maine; from that base, he travelled the northeast as an itinerant artist, painting portraits for wealthy families, generally of their children.
His deafness led to a more conscious perception of facial expressions, evident in his paintings. In addition, the work of Ralph Earl influenced him; Earl had toned down the ostentatious styles of noted portraitists to a more modest depiction of sitters. He resided in his brother’s house for the remainder of his life and was one of the first to join the American School for the Deaf, where he learned the new American Sign Language.
John Brewster Junior was one of the most celebrated portraitists in North America.