THE COVER

摘要

The surviving Peales eventually formed a dynasty of painters. Charles Willson Peale was the son of Charles Peale, who had emigrated to America to escape British penal law. Young Charles, something of an opportunist and entrepreneur even in his teens, worked at various trades in Maryland, including sign painting. In 1766, at age 25, he was given the opportunity to study in England with the preeminent colonial expatriate, the history painter Benjamin West. When Peale returned to the Colonies in 1869 he established himself as a society painter, working primarily in Annapolis. He became noted for his group portraits of prominent Colonial families. But the action and the opportunities were greater in Philadelphia and it was there that Charles Willson moved his family in December 1775.