Today is our net installation in this week ’s three - part ' Feel Art Again ' miniskirt - serial . The mini - series explores Charles Willson Peale ’s enthralling life and nontextual matter .
OnTuesday , we looked at the creative person and his family , accompanied by one of his seven self - portraits , painted in 1822.Yesterday , we delved into his role as a natural scientist , his museum , and his ego - portraiture , " The Artist in His Museum . " And today , we ’ll explore his role as an American patriot , keep company by one of his most well - known paintings , " ' George Washington at Princeton . "
The Patriot
1.A jock of America ’s independence and a member of the Sons of Liberty , Charles Willson Peale traveled to Philadelphia , then the capital , in 1776 . While there , he painted portraiture of American notability , including John Hancock , Thomas Jefferson , and Alexander Hamilton , as well as visitors from other countries .
2.Peale is best known for his portrayal of George Washington . Washington pose for his first portrayal ever in 1772 , for Charles Peale ; six more sittings would follow . From those seven sitting , Peale bring about almost 60 portraits . A 1779 full - length portrait , " Washington at Princeton " ( shown above ) , was sold in January 2005 for $ 21.3 million , setting the disk for the highest price paid for an American portrayal .
3.Peale raised troops for the War of Independence and , by 1777 , had gain the rank of captain in the Pennsylvania militia . While in the field , he painted miniature portraits of officers .
4.As the remnants of George Washington ’s army arrived on the bank of the Delaware River , Peale was crossing the river from Trenton to Pennsylvania himself . He report Washington ’s notable crossing as " the most hellish view I have ever beheld . "
5.Only after serving in the Pennsylvania state forum from 1779 to 1780 did Peale return to paint full - time .
6.A World War II Liberty Ship was nominate SS Charles Willson Peale in honour of the puma / naturalist / patriot extraordinaire .
A larger version of " George Washington at Princeton " is availablehere .
' Feel Art Again ' appear every Tuesday and Thursday .
