Biography of Charles Willson Peale: The True Renaissance Man

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The self taught, revered scientists, extensive naturalist and all around jack of all trades Charles Willson Peale was thought of like a true Renaissance man. All of his artistic talent and knowledge he passed on to his many sons. Being friends with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, Peale promoted artistic development and public art. In his artwork, he captured the realness and vivacity of life. The similarities between Peale and his American contemporaries can be seen when they are compared to him. The well known Neo-classicist artist, Charles Peale through all of his trades was a masterful craftsman and artist. Fully skilled in many fields Charles Peale was known as an American Leonardo. Living from 1741-1827 Peale was the eldest of 5 children who grew up in Chestertown Maryland (Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography). Because of being a scientist, artist, saddler, watchmaker, silversmith, upholsterer, soldier, politician and inventor, Charles Peale earned the title of a true enlightenment man. Inventing a new type of spectacles, porcelain false teeth, a steam bath and a stove that consumed its own smoke, Peale certainly was superiorly innovative (Strickland 72). While being trained in the trade of saddle making, Peale decided, at the age of 21, that painting would be a better route to take. In 1776 he settled in Philadelphia and during the American revolutionary war, Peale served as a militia officer from 1776-1778 and continued to paint throughout this whole time. With his three wives, Rachel Brewer, Elizabeth DePeyster and Hannah Moore, Peale had 17 children (Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography). Due to his insatiable interest and curiosity Willson Peale founded a natural history museum... ... middle of paper ... ...aries and Charles Peale, it is noticed that these were all proficient Neo-classicism artists. As Charles Peale’s life is examined it is seen that he was an ingenious scientist, inventor and artist. His painting The Peale Family is an extraordinarily profound piece of art, with its complex composition and style. In comparison to Peale himself, the American contemporaries of his own time, like Peale, were creative artists and architects who greatly influenced Neo-classicism and the current and future culture. Works Cited Charles Willson Peale." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2013 Peale, Charles Willson." Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 16 Nov. 2013 Strickland, Carol. The Annotated Mona Lisa. Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2007.

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