Upon his return home in 1815, Morse found that Americans did not appreciate his historical canvases, and he reluctantly took up painting portraits to earn a living. His painting career started in New England, moved to New York, and then South Carolina. In 1825, on settling in New York City, he painted some of the finest portraits ever done by an American artist. He combined technical competence, (the art of combining styles) and a bold rendering of his subjects’ character with a touch of the Romanticism he had absorbed in England. During this time he was not wealthy, and was spending much of his money on art supplies. Other than painting, he did get involved in many public activities during this time in his life, he did have many friends.
