A portrait painter in New York, John Wesley Jarvis was born to parents in South Shield, England, and was a nephew of theologian John Wesley. At age five, he was brought to Philadelphia where the family first settled. He was apprenticed to Edward Savage, portrait painter and engraver, and in 1801 Savage moved to New York City and brought Jarvis with him and for awhile they worked together.

However, the men became estranged and Jarvis opened his own engraving business and then formed a partnership with Joseph Wood. "Their business was so successful that, Jarvis later claimed they often took in more than $100 a day." Because there was little competition, Jarvis's reputation soared as a portraitist. He later said: "I was the best p...