Joseph Alexander Ames (1816–1872) was an American artist, primarily known for portrait and genre painting.

Originally named Joseph Emes, he was born in Roxbury, New Hampshire.

In 1848, Ames traveled to Rome, where he painted a portrait of Pope Pius IX that was featured at the National Academy of Design's annual exhibition in 1850.

When he returned from Italy he was commissioned by Rufus Choate, Daniel Webster, and Abraham Lincoln.

[1] His brother Nathan was a poet and patent solicitor who invented many machines, including the escalator.