A Pioneer of American Likeness: The Life and Art of Reuben Moulthrop Reuben Moulthrop (1763–1814) occupies a fascinating, somewhat elusive position in the early landscape of American art. Born in East Haven, Connecticut, at the cusp of a nation forging its identity, he wasn’t merely a painter but a cultural entrepreneur who captivated audiences with his remarkably lifelike wax figures before gaining recognition for his sensitive and increasingly sophisticated portraits. His life story reflects the transition from colonial craftsmanship to the burgeoning artistic spirit of the new republic, a…