Thomas Prichard Rossiter

Thomas Prichard Rossiter (1817-71) was an American portrait and historical painter. He was born in New Haven, Conn., and studied there with Nathaniel Jocelyn. In 1838-40 he painted portraits in London and Paris and from 1841 to 1846 he lived in Rome. In 1849 he was elected to the National Academy and he had a studio in Paris from 1853 to 1856, winning a gold medal at the Universal Exposition of 1855 for his "Venice in the Fifteenth Century."

He painted a series of pictures illustrating the life of Christ. Though his work was admired during his lifetime, it is of little artistic merit. Among his best-known paintings are:

• "Signing of the Constitution" (ca 1860-1870), hosted at Independence National Historical Park and used by Common-Place [1].
• "Jews in Captivity"
• "The Wise and Foolish Virgins"
• "The Home of Washington" (1858), painted together with Mignot.
• "Washington's First Cabinet"
• "The Last Hours of Tasso"
• "Spilt Milk"

In 1860 he designed a house, Fair Lawn, overlooking the Hudson River. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.