early life and education charles loring elliott, an american painter, was born in auburn, new york, in 1812. his father, a builder, encouraged his son's early interest in drawing and architecture. elliott's health was fragile, but he persevered to develop his artistic skills. he studied with colonel john trumbull and john quidor in new york city, refining his technique. career elliott returned to central new york, where he worked intensively at portrait painting for 10 years. his portraits "were never stiff, or clumsy, or cold; but gradually grace, and ease, and warmth, and high feeling, stol…