The Art of the Peales in the Philadelphia Museum of Art

A fascinating overview of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts unparalleled and diverse collection of works by the Peale family, Americas first artistic dynasty Active from the late 18th through the early 20th century, the Peale family was Americas first artistic dynasty. This overview of the art of the Peales documents and interprets more than 160 works in a variety of media from the renowned collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With discussions of both internationally famous masterworks such as Charles Willson Peales Staircase Group and lesser-known but equally engaging pictures including Rubens Peales Magpie Eating Cake, Carol Eaton Soltis traces the familys history and reveals how the Peales energy, innovation, and entrepreneurship paved the way for generations of American artists. Rigorously researched and generously illustrated, The Art of the Peales is an essential and wide-ranging study that considers the familys substantial output and contextualizes their historical legacy. Examining the different ways that the Peales instructed, influenced, supported, and competed with one another, this book is full of new revelations on this extraordinary family that remained a transformative force in Americas cultural life for more than a century. Published in association with the Philadelphia Museum of Art