Raphaelle Peale (1774-1825) was America's first professional still-life painter and one of the finest and most important artists of the new nation. At the turn of the eighteenth century, however, when Peale was active, still life was regarded as a subject of secondary artistic concern. In fact, until now Peale's pioneering achievement has been almost entirely ignored. Since his death in 1825 there has been only one exhibition of his work, and no exhibition has been dedicated to the still lifes that were his greatest effort and most significant contribution to posterity. Today, when the still lifes of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Matisse are considered central to the accomplishments of modern painting, we can better appreciate the beginnings of still-life painting in this country.
This book accompanies the major exhibition held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. It contains essays by Nicolai Cikovsky, Jr., the National Gallery's curator of American art and the curator of the Peale exhibition, by John Wilmerding, the Gallery's former deputy director and now Christopher Binyon Sarofim '88 Professor in American Art at Princeton University, and by Linda Bantel, director of the museum at the Pennsylvania Academy. Together, they reveal new insights into Peale's work, including his trompe 1'oeil masterpieces, and his place in American art history.
The beautifully illustrated book, with 47 color-plates, will restore Raphaelle Peale, eldest son of artist, naturalist, and inventor Charles Willson Peale, to his rightful place in the annals of American art.