These two portraits of an unknown man and woman in the Fenimore Art Museum collection, signed by A. Ellis.... We know so little about the artist; no biographical data at all, in fact. The data we have, of course, is the paintings themselves.Ellis obviously had no artistic training in how to reproduce the observed world naturalistically. No shade or shadow, no three-dimensional modeling, no realistic surface textures.... The decorative quality of the woman’s portrait is particularly intriguing. The curls in her hair, the scallops of her costumes, and especially her noodle arm, all exemplify the rhythm and repetition of form that we see in the best folk art. The details that Ellis added, including the flattened facial features and jewelry as well as the nosegay in the woman’s right hand, all add considerable visual interest to the pair. It’s a pity we don’t know who they were. (http://folkartcooperstown.blogspot.nl/2010/10/brilliant-simplicity-of-ellis.html)