Daughter of a prominent Newport family and wife of a distinguished Providence merchant, Elizabeth Rodman Rogers is shown here in a vivid, spontaneous moment. She glances up from her book, finger still holding her place, as if a friend or family member has just walked into the room. This sense of intimacy was fashionable at the time the portrait was painted, and James Earl was known for his "uncommon facility in hitting of the likeness...of giving life to the eye, and expression of every feature."