Archives of American Art

Selected papers from the Peale-Sellers collection

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.pealchar
Creators:
Peale, Charles Willson, 1741-1827
Dates:
[ca. 1767-1904]
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
7 Microfilm reels
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Autobiographical and biographical material, letters, writings, printed material, photographs, a sketchbook, drawings and notebooks belonging to Charles Willson Peale and the Peale family, with notes and writings by Horace Wells Sellers.
Scope and Contents
Charles Willson Peale material including, part of the preliminary draft of his autobiography, ca. 1790, and a typed copy with notes and addenda by Horace Wells Sellers; typescripts of letterbooks, 1767-1827; a list of portraits and Washington portrait material; a notebook pertaining to paintings and a memo book containing recipes for medicines, colors and notes on painting technique; lectures and essays on natural history, health, domestic happiness and Peale's museum; and letters from John De Peyster.
Scope and Contents
James Peale's sketchbook; Rubens Peale's letterbooks, 1802-1824, lists of pictures painted at Riverside Farm and memorandum on his life; writings by Titian Ramsay Peale on techniques of miniature painting and a biography of Charles Willson; letters of Titian and Franklin Peale, 1831-1869, with biographical comments by Sellers; a history of the United Bowmen of Philadelphia, a club Titian and Franklin belonged to; material on Peale's Museum including, correspondence, minutes, articles of incorporation, and a handbook with a partial description of the museum's contents; Peale family photographs; and drawings and silhouettes.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Charles Willson Peale: portrait painter and engraver; Philadelphia, Pa. Sellers: Peale's great-grandson. Peale studied in London with Benjamin West. Painted George Washington's portrait. Established Peale's Museum in 1786. Influential in the founding of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Father of Raphaelle, Franklin, Rubens, Rembrandt and Titian Ramsay Peale. Brother of James Peale.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels P31-P37 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming, 1955, by the American Philosophical Society, Peale-Sellers Collection.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art, American -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Miniature painting -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painting -- 18th century -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painting -- 19th century -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Topic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Miniature painters -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Portrait painters -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peale, Franklin, 1795-1870 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peale, James, 1749-1831 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peale, Rubens, 1784-1865 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peale, Titian Ramsay, 1799-1885 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sellers, Horace Wells, 1857-1933 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Peale's Museum (Philadelphia, Pa.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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