New Perspectives on Charles Willson Peale: A 250th Anniversary Celebration

The 250th anniversary of the birth of Charles Willson Peale, in April 1991, is marked by the publication of this volume edited by Lillian B. Miller and David C. Ward, editors of "The Peale Family Papers" at the Smithsonian Institution. Containing over 100 illustrations, this collection of 15 essays by scholars is an assessment of Peale's life and achievement. Some essays were commissioned for the book, while others previously published have been updated. The essays summarize the artist's life and work, from his beginnings as a student of Benjamin West in London, through the painting of his major works - examined in close detail, his museum, his mechanical inventions, and his artistic creation of a popular garden and experimental farm, Belfield. Several chapters describe Peale's relationship with his remarkable family, particularly his sons who became recognized artists in their own right.