James Baquet

    The American artist Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) was something of a Renaissance man. In addition to art, he was also proficient in science and politics.

    Born in Maryland, he tried his hand at several trades, including saddle-making, clock repair, and metal work. However, when it became known that he had sided with the colonists and their “Sons of Liberty” against Great Britain, the British loyalists in his community worked to drive him bankrupt. Unable to continue in business, he began painting.

    He studied painting in England and returned to Annapolis, Maryland, but eventually settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1776, which was then the nation’s capital. He became an officer in George Washington’s army, and painted nearly 60 portraits of Washington, as well as portraits of other national leading figures such as Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton.

    He interrupted his painting when he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Assembly, but returned to his artistic career again after retiring from the legislature.

    Deeply interested in natural history, Peale was behind the first science expedition in America, in 1801. From this came the Philadelphia Museum, which was later called Peale’s American Museum. It has merged with other museums since, but some of the original collection is still in existence.

    This was the first building in the “New World” to be designed specifically for a museum collection. Aside from Peale’s natural history collection, it also held a number of his portraits. It was managed by his sons, particularly Rembrandt Peale.

    This was another source of Peale’s influence: He taught many of his children to paint, including Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Titian — all named after famous artists.

    Charles Willson Peale died at 85, having fathered 17 children (only 11 of whom lived to adulthood).

    Vocabulary

    Which word above means:

    1. joined, connected

    2. person who remains faithful to his/her country

    3. state of being grown up

    4. out of business, insolvent

    5. took a break from, suspended

    6. not destroyed, still found in the world

    7. given the same name as

    8. starting, setting up

    9. took the same side as

    10. most important people

    11. the Western hemisphere, as distinguished from Europe