Letters from Rembrandt Peale to Mary Jane Peale collection

Rembrandt Peale (1778-1869) was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, to Charles Wilson Peale (1741-1827) and Rachel Brewer Peale (1744-1790). Charles was one of the most popular portraitists of the United States, having completed portraits and miniatures for the likes of George Washington, Martha Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. In 1784, he founded Peale’s Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Throughout his life he married three times; first to Rachel Brewer Peale (1744-1790) with whom he had eleven children, then to Betsy de Peyster Peale (1765-1804), with whom he had six children, and finally to Hannah Moore Peale (1755-1821).

The Peale family valued enlightened thinking and exploration of artistic passions, and under their father’s tutelage, the children all practiced art to varying degrees of success. Of them, it was Raphaelle Peale (1774-1825), Rubens Peale (1784-185), and Rembrandt Peale, who grew famous in their own right.

Rembrandt began his artistic journey by drawing at the age of eight and painting his first self-portrait at age thirteen. At seventeen years old, Rembrandt painted his first of many portraits of George Washington. He was perceived by his father to be of great talent and therefore his studies were heavily encouraged and monetarily supported. He studied in England under Benjamin West (1738-1820) for some time before studying in Paris as well. In 1810, he returned from Paris with the intention of expanding his work from portraiture to large exhibition pieces and history paintings. He opened a picture gallery specifically to feature history paintings. Although Philadelphia was not very perceptive to this style of art, Rembrandt attempted to persevere and remain true to his new passion for the style of history painting. After some time, Rembrandt was accused of plagiarism by Russian diplomat and artist, Pavel Svinin (1787-1839). Despite his public exoneration, rumors continued to plague Rembrandt. Ultimately, he moved his gallery and family from Philadelphia to Baltimore in 1814.

In Baltimore, Rembrandt attempted to continue to follow in his father’s footsteps by opening a museum. While it was originally intended to be an arts and sciences museum, Rembrandt only put art and manufactured items on display. Rembrandt’s lack of managerial experience, his underestimation of the expenses of a museum, and the lack of public interest in attending museums due to the War of 1812 reaching Baltimore in 1814, all led to the museum falling short of his goals. Rubens Peale, Rembrandt’s brother, eventually took over as director in 1822. Rembrandt returned to art, leaning heavily into portraiture and copies of George Washington, until his death in 1869.

Rubens married Eliza Burd Patterson Peale (1795-1864), and together they had six children. Their only daughter, Mary Jane Peale (1827-1902), is the recipient of the letters from Rembrandt. She was born in New York while her Rubens was running the Peale Museum of New York City. However, a period of financial hardship forced the family to move to rural Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1841. Despite this vast change in circumstances, Mary continued to dedicate herself to her studies, particularly in the arts. She studied under her uncle, Rembrandt, as well as Thomas Sully (1783-1872) and Reid Lambdin (1807-1889). She also enrolled in Thomas Eakins’ (1844-1916) life class at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She continued her studies while traveling throughout Europe in the 1860s.