Rubens Peale
I have found myself fascinated by the Peale family.
When I returned to the US (twenty years ago yesterday), I was in Boston. It took me two years to have an opportunity to come and visit DC, and I went straight to the National Gallery of Art. While I was there, I found a portrait that I didn't remember -- I've since discovered that it was purchased in 1985, so I couldn't remember it -- of Rubens Peale painted by his brother Rembrandt Peale.
Now, I knew Rembrandt Peale was a famous artist, but this is the first picture of his that I remembered. I love the fact that Rubens has a pair of glasses in his hand and the ones he's wearing are for close work. A couple of months ago I went on one of the tours at the National Gallery and found out that Peale family legend maintains "Uncle Rubens" wasn't wearing the close work pair originally. No one in the family thought he looked right without his glasses on, so Rembrandt added the second pair later.
The first time I saw it I stood smiling at it for nearly ten minutes. I'm convinced I can see how much Rembrandt loved his brother. I've learned things about it, like the glasses story, and did you know it's one of the earliest representations of a geranium in art? Every time I went to the National Gallery, I looked at it.
I couldn't find it today. It's been taken off public display!
In the meantime, I found out that Rubens was a painter in his own right, although he's more famous for his scientific drawings of nature. Apparently his work is comparable to, and, in some cases, predates Audobon. I've also found out their brothers, Raphaelle and Titian (what, there weren't any more painters whose names began with "R"?), were excellent painters as well.
The top picture is the portrait I love. The second is a still life of a Magpie Eating Cakes by Rubens Peale himself.
Rubens Peale
Portrait of Rubens Peale with a Geranium by his brother Rembrandt Peale
Magpie with Cakes
Magpie with Cakes painted by Rubens Peale
When I returned to the US (twenty years ago yesterday), I was in Boston. It took me two years to have an opportunity to come and visit DC, and I went straight to the National Gallery of Art. While I was there, I found a portrait that I didn't remember -- I've since discovered that it was purchased in 1985, so I couldn't remember it -- of Rubens Peale painted by his brother Rembrandt Peale.
Now, I knew Rembrandt Peale was a famous artist, but this is the first picture of his that I remembered. I love the fact that Rubens has a pair of glasses in his hand and the ones he's wearing are for close work. A couple of months ago I went on one of the tours at the National Gallery and found out that Peale family legend maintains "Uncle Rubens" wasn't wearing the close work pair originally. No one in the family thought he looked right without his glasses on, so Rembrandt added the second pair later.
The first time I saw it I stood smiling at it for nearly ten minutes. I'm convinced I can see how much Rembrandt loved his brother. I've learned things about it, like the glasses story, and did you know it's one of the earliest representations of a geranium in art? Every time I went to the National Gallery, I looked at it.
I couldn't find it today. It's been taken off public display!
In the meantime, I found out that Rubens was a painter in his own right, although he's more famous for his scientific drawings of nature. Apparently his work is comparable to, and, in some cases, predates Audobon. I've also found out their brothers, Raphaelle and Titian (what, there weren't any more painters whose names began with "R"?), were excellent painters as well.
The top picture is the portrait I love. The second is a still life of a Magpie Eating Cakes by Rubens Peale himself.
Rubens Peale
Portrait of Rubens Peale with a Geranium by his brother Rembrandt Peale
Magpie with Cakes
Magpie with Cakes painted by Rubens Peale