Ezra Ames send, and others, do rank with the work of those artists whose productions generally are of a high artistic excellence. However, although he sometimes reached their heights of artistry, Ames's average is not quite as high as theirs, for, like many of the portrait painters of his time, his purpose was less to produce an artistic result than it was to meet the demand for accurate likenesses—a demand met nowadays by photographers. Ames also frequently made frames for his portraits to meet an additional requirement of his day that portraits with their frames serve as parts of the decorative furnishings of a room. Besides achieving distinction as a craftsman and portrait painter, Ames became a prominent citizen of Albany, and the story of his life is an interesting part of the history of New York State. He was not only recognized as a portrait painter outside of his district, but he was also honored for over twenty-four years as the Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of New York; and, besides, he was elected president of the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank of Albany after serving for twenty years as one of its directors. His record in all three activities—art, Masonry, and banking—will be included in the following biographical essay. There will also be some account of his forebears and his family. The emphasis, however, will be placed on his activity as a craftsman and as an artist. Obviously, not nearly all of the portraits painted by Ames will be mentioned in the biography; but the separate catalogue of his works will be as complete as the authors can make it. Ezra Ames belonged to the generation of portrait painters, residing in New York State during the first half of the 19th century who managed to compete successfully with the better- trained visiting artists. In his study of "New York Painters Before 1800," Dr. George C. Groce concludes that: "Resident artists fared badly in New York between 1751 and 1800." Among the artists who were unable to live by portrait painting alone and had to supplement their incomes by craft work and other means during the latter part of the 18th century he names Lawrence 228