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Charles Wilson
Peel

United States • 1741−1827

Charles Wilson Peale was born in 1741 in Maryland. In his youth he changed several professions: he worked as a watchmaker, saddler, silver Affairs by the master. His career in art began, she traded her saddle for a few painting lessons from John Hesselius. Interest Saw for art grew even more when he started to use the advice well-known portrait George.With. Copley. Soon Saw there were patrons, who in 1766 sent him to London, where he studied for three years at B. West. After returning home, Drinking becomes the most fashionable portraitist of the Central colonies. He moved in 1775 to Philadelphia, he took an active part in the revolutionary movement. In 1782, opened a gallery of Heroes of the revolution, and in 1786 founded the so-called Pila Museum (now the Philadelphia Museum), whose goal was the study of natural science, as well as exhibiting technological objects and objects related to natural history.

Charles Wilson was born in Chester County, Queen Anne's, Maryland, in the family of Charles and Margaret Peel. Born in 1749 his brother James (1749-1831).

When he turned thirteen he became a student of master saddlery . In his youth he changed several professions: he worked as a watchmaker, saddler, silver Affairs by the master. Upon reaching maturity, he opened his own saddle shop. However, lenders have discovered that he joined the organization "Sons of Freedom" (the Sons of Liberty), and decided to destroy his business.

At the same time it was discovered that Charles has a talent for painting. His career in art, he began, exchanging a saddle for a few painting lessons from John Hesselius. Interest Saw for art grew even more when he started to use the advice of famous portraitist John Singleton Copley.

Soon Saw there were patrons, one of them John bill Bordley together with Charles, helped him to gather a sufficient amount of to in 1766 to study in England Benjamin West.

Between 1767 and Drank he studied at the Studio West for two years, by the way, along with the inventor of the Telegraph Samuel F. B. Morse (1791-1872), who was also a wonderful artist.

Peel then returned to America and settled in Annapolis, Maryland. There he taught painting to his younger brother James, who also decided to link their lives with art.

He moved in 1775 to Philadelphia, he took an active part in the revolutionary movement. First capital has brought Charles the portraits of American celebrities and visitors from abroad, which he wrote in Philadelphia in 1776. Peel took an active part in the civil war for Independence, commanded in 1777 in Pennsylvania with the rank of captain and then Colonel of the militia and participating in several battles.

At the same time he continued to paint, doing miniature portraits of officials in the continental Army. Later he made enlarged copies of these pictures.

Drank in 1779-1780 he was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly from the Democrat party, then returned to painting.First time Washington posed a Saw in 1772, just six sessions, the portrait was ready. Washington, the artist painted seven times, and these portraits subsequently was copied many times. In General, Peele wrote some 60 portraits of Washington.Charles Wilson Peale is primarily known as a painter, but he was also a naturalist, inventor, and educator. In 1801 he organized the first U.S. scientific expedition.

In 1782, Peale opened the first U.S. art gallery next to his Studio and called it the gallery of Heroes of the revolution. Gallery in a few years grew into a Museum, which in addition to portraits of political figures were collected the exhibits of the natural history, flora and fauna.In 1786, Peale founded the so-called Pila Museum (now the Philadelphia Museum), whose goal was the study of natural science, as well as exhibiting technological objects and objects related to natural history.

It was the first major Museum in the United States, the collection was dedicated to the natural world of North America. Drinking led paleontological excavations near West point (new York), in which were discovered the bones of an ancient mastodon.Three months he spent for the reconstruction of the skeleton, exhibited in his Museum. This event was captured on two canvases.

In 1805, Peale took an active part in the establishment of the Pennsylvania Academy of fine arts.

In 1762 Charles married Rachel brewer (1744-1790). They had ten children.

Among the sons – Raphael (1774-1825), Rembrandt (1778-1860), and Rubens (1784-1865). Among the daughters: Angelica Kauffman (the name of a famous artist daddy and he added her surname, choosing the name for his daughter!), married Alexander Robinson, Priscilla married Dr. Henry Boteler, and Sophonisba married Coleman sellers.

In 1791 Charles married again to Elizabeth de Peyster (mind. 1804), who bore him six more children. One of the sons, Franklin, born 15 Oct 1795, I directed the Philadelphia Mint. His last son, Titian Ramsey (1799-1885) was an important naturalist and a pioneer in photography, although this was quite the artist.

In 1802 Charles born daughter Elizabeth (1802-1857), published in 1820, married William August Patterson (1792-1833).

In 1804 Charles married for the third time to Hannah Moore, who raised the children from his two previous marriages.The saw was called a "Renaissance man" because he was not only an artist but a master in other fields of dentistry, optometry (it should be noted that Drinking has invented a new type of glasses and false teeth!), as well as Shoe-making and taxidermy.

He has written several books, including the essay "Construction of wooden bridges" (1797) and "Epistle to a friend on the means of preserving health" (1803).

While during his long life, Peale wrote more than a thousand portraits.

He died in 1827 in Philadelphia.

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