Charles Willson Peale
American, 1741–1827
Born in Chester, Maryland; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Peale trained as a saddler in Maryland before turning to painting, and studied in London with Benjamin West. Back in America he served in the Revolutionary War and painted George Washington from life several times, along with many leaders of the new republic. In 1786 he opened a museum in Philadelphia, showing portraits beside natural history specimens, including an excavated mastodon skeleton. He named several of his children after artists, among them Raphaelle, Rembrandt and Rubens, and several became painters.
Written by Ochre Editions.
- In the collection
- 3 worksDated 1776–1805
- Mostly
- Painting
- Courtesy of
- The National Portrait Gallery, The Met
