Artwork
Mrs. Charles Willson Peale (Rachel Brewer) and Baby Eleanor
Mrs. Charles Willson Peale (Rachel Brewer) and Baby Eleanor is a watercolor painting by the American Impressionist artist Charles Willson Peale. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the mother as the primary subject, presenting her alongside the child to capture a specific moment of family life.
The work depicts Rachel Brewer Peale, the artist's wife, holding her infant daughter, Eleanor. Created in 1790 by Charles Willson Peale, this watercolor on ivory functions as a domestic portrait that emphasizes the maternal bond. The composition centers on the mother as the primary subject, presenting her alongside the child to capture a specific moment of family life.
As a miniature portrait, the piece serves to memorialize the individuals within the household, highlighting the status of the mother and the presence of the next generation. The subject matter is strictly familial, focusing on the visual representation of a woman and an infant without additional allegorical figures or complex symbolic narratives beyond the inherent significance of motherhood and lineage in late 18th-century American portraiture.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1790, this miniature portrait by Charles Willson Peale is rendered in watercolor on ivory, a refined technique characteristic of late eighteenth-century portrait miniatures. The small-scale support, measuring approximately 6.5 by 5.2 inches, allowed for delicate, precise handling suited to intimate family subjects. The use of translucent watercolor washes over the smooth ivory surface would have produced a luminous, enamel-like finish, lending softness to the flesh tones of the sitter and infant.
Such ivory supports were prized for their fine grain and ability to take fine brushwork, enabling the meticulous rendering of facial features typical of Peale's portrait practice. The compact format and tender handling reflect the conventions of the genre, designed for private viewing and personal keepsake rather than public display.
History & Provenance
Created in 1790 by Charles Willson Peale, this watercolor on ivory depicts the artist's wife, Rachel Brewer Peale, holding their infant daughter, Eleanor. The work measures 6.5 by 5.2 inches and is classified as a portrait. While the specific circumstances of its commission and its ownership history prior to entering its current institution are not detailed in the available records, the piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing.
The inception date is firmly established as 1790, marking it as a late eighteenth-century example of Peale's miniature portraiture focusing on domestic subjects.
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed in The American Wing collection and classified as a portrait. It depicts Rachel Brewer Peale with her infant, painted in watercolor on ivory in 1790. The piece is recorded in the museum’s catalogue as part of the American Wing’s portrait genre, though the specific accession number is not provided in the cited documentation.
Exhibition records referenced in the sources do not mention any prior displays, indicating that its exhibition history remains undocumented in the available references.
Overview
This watercolor on ivory depicts Rachel Brewer Peale, wife of artist Charles Willson Peale, tenderly holding their infant daughter, Eleanor. The miniature captures a private, intimate exchange between mother and child, a subject that was not frequently emphasized in portraiture during the period. Its delicate execution and personal nature offer insight into domestic life and evolving artistic conventions of the era.
Context
As part of The American Wing collection, this portrait provides a glimpse into American art and society of its time. While the artist is not specified in the facts, the work itself reflects the broader trends in American portraiture, which increasingly embraced personal narratives and domestic scenes. Its inclusion underscores the evolving scope of art collections to encompass diverse forms of artistic expression.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Willson Peale (April 15, 1741 – February 22, 1827) was an American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist.
