Born in Maryland but based in Philadelphia for most of his career, Charles Willson Peale is credited with having established Philadelphia as a center of portraiture for the new republic, a tradition ably continued by his brother and children and later contemporaries, notably Thomas Sully. Peale started out apprenticed to a saddler at age nine, but his broad interests and restless curiosity pushed him to explore science and art. His fascination with painting led him to seek lessons with local artist Johann Hesselius, offering one of his best saddles in payment. In 1763 Peale advertised himself as a painter. From 1767-69 he studied in England with Benjamin West, the only American artist to become President of the Royal Academy. Peale returned to America in time to join the Sons of Liberty and winter with the Continental Army at Valley Forge.
Not only one of early America's most successful artists, Peale also helped engineer the United States' artistic future. Besides founding the nation's two earliest art academies, he trained virtually every member of his family, especially his children, all named after famous European artists to become painters. At the Peale Museum in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, the artist exhibited natural history specimens, natural and scientific curiosities, and life portraits of the historical and cultural figures who had led to the creation of the United States. He painted over a thousand works and was best known for his portraits of George Washington.
Adapted from
- Eleanor Jones Harvey, "Charles Willson Peale, Rachel Leeds Kerr," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Charles Venable (New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press, 1997), 218.
- William Keyse Rudolph, DMA Label copy (1989.23), 2006.
- DMA Label copy (1989.23), 1993.
NOTES
Checked Piction
Following a period of self- and semi-professional instruction, Charles Willson Peale traveled to London in 1767 to study with the famous American-born painter, Benjamin West. Peale's two years under West's tutelage, greatly effected his style. In contrast to his stiff and naive early renderings, the work Peale did when he returned from England is finely drawn, and delicately colored.---Anne Bromberg, DMA Selected Works
Charles Willson Peale was not only a painter, but also an inventor, naturalist, writer and the founder of one of the first natural history museums in America. Best known for his portraits of George Washington, Peale painted over a thousand pictures and founded a family of artists, many of whom were named after famous painters like Titian, Rembrandt and Raphael. His "Portrait of Rachel Leeds Kerr" represents Peale at the height of his powers in the 1780s and 1790s. The painting shows Mrs. Kerr (1755-1832) in her finest clothes, surrounded by luxurious furnishings, depicting visually her position as the cultivated wife of a successful planter.
DMA Label copy (1989.23), August 1993.
Born in Maryland but based in Philadelphia for most of his career, Peale was not only one of early America's most successful artists, he also helped engineer the United States' artistic future. Besides founding the nation's two earliest art academies, he trained virtually every member of his family-especially his children, all named after famous European artists-to become painters, as well. At the Peale Museum in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, the artist exhibited natural history specimens, natural and scientific curiosities, and life portraits of the historical and cultural figures who had led to the creation of the United States. Thus, in both the public and private spheres, Peale was one of the leading figures to promote and disseminate culture in the new United States.
William Keyse Rudolph, DMA Label copy (1989.23), May 2006.
An inventor and naturalist who founded one of the first museums in America, which became the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Charles Willson Peale was a true Renaissance man. A painter as well, he traveled throughtout Pennsylvania and Maryland in search of commissions. Trained by John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West, Peale was an established portraitist in the young Republic.
Charles Willson Peale is credited with having established Philadelphia as a center of portraiture for the new republic, a tradition ably continued by his brother and children and later contemporaries, notably Thomas Sully. Peale started out apprenticed to a saddler at age nine, but his broad interests and restless curiosity pushed him to explore science and art. His fascination with painting led him to seek lessons with local artist Johann Hesselius, offering one of his best saddles in payment. In 1763 Peale advertised himself as a painter. From 1767-69 he studied in England with Benjamin West, the only American artist to become President of the Royal Academy. Peale returned to America in time to join the Sons of Liberty and winter with the Continental Army at Valley Forge.
Eleanor Jones Harvey, "Charles Willson Peale, Rachel Leeds Kerr," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Charles Venable (New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press, 1997), 218.
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WEB RESOURCES
- Khan Academy~Learn more about the artist and his museum from the Khan Academy.
- YouTube~Watch the National Portrait Gallery's "Portrait in a Minute" to learn more about Charles Wilson Peale.
- Mount Vernon.org~View many of Peale's portraits of George Washington at the Mount Vernon website.
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Fun Facts
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Web Resources
- Khan Academy~Learn more about the artist and his museum from the Khan Academy.
- YouTube~Watch the National Portrait Gallery's "Portrait in a Minute" to learn more about Charles Wilson Peale.
- Mount Vernon.org~View many of Peale's portraits of George Washington at the Mount Vernon website.
Notes
Checked Piction
Following a period of self- and semi-professional instruction, Charles Willson Peale traveled to London in 1767 to study with the famous American-born painter, Benjamin West. Peale's two years under West's tutelage, greatly effected his style. In contrast to his stiff and naive early renderings, the work Peale did when he returned from England is finely drawn, and delicately colored.---Anne Bromberg, DMA Selected Works
Charles Willson Peale was not only a painter, but also an inventor, naturalist, writer and the founder of one of the first natural history museums in America. Best known for his portraits of George Washington, Peale painted over a thousand pictures and founded a family of artists, many of whom were named after famous painters like Titian, Rembrandt and Raphael. His "Portrait of Rachel Leeds Kerr" represents Peale at the height of his powers in the 1780s and 1790s. The painting shows Mrs. Kerr (1755-1832) in her finest clothes, surrounded by luxurious furnishings, depicting visually her position as the cultivated wife of a successful planter.
DMA Label copy (1989.23), August 1993.
Born in Maryland but based in Philadelphia for most of his career, Peale was not only one of early America's most successful artists, he also helped engineer the United States' artistic future. Besides founding the nation's two earliest art academies, he trained virtually every member of his family-especially his children, all named after famous European artists-to become painters, as well. At the Peale Museum in Philadelphia's Independence Hall, the artist exhibited natural history specimens, natural and scientific curiosities, and life portraits of the historical and cultural figures who had led to the creation of the United States. Thus, in both the public and private spheres, Peale was one of the leading figures to promote and disseminate culture in the new United States.
William Keyse Rudolph, DMA Label copy (1989.23), May 2006.
An inventor and naturalist who founded one of the first museums in America, which became the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Charles Willson Peale was a true Renaissance man. A painter as well, he traveled throughtout Pennsylvania and Maryland in search of commissions. Trained by John Singleton Copley and Benjamin West, Peale was an established portraitist in the young Republic.
Charles Willson Peale is credited with having established Philadelphia as a center of portraiture for the new republic, a tradition ably continued by his brother and children and later contemporaries, notably Thomas Sully. Peale started out apprenticed to a saddler at age nine, but his broad interests and restless curiosity pushed him to explore science and art. His fascination with painting led him to seek lessons with local artist Johann Hesselius, offering one of his best saddles in payment. In 1763 Peale advertised himself as a painter. From 1767-69 he studied in England with Benjamin West, the only American artist to become President of the Royal Academy. Peale returned to America in time to join the Sons of Liberty and winter with the Continental Army at Valley Forge.
Eleanor Jones Harvey, "Charles Willson Peale, Rachel Leeds Kerr," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Charles Venable (New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press, 1997), 218.
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