Self-portrait

Art Historical Context

James Peale's *Self-Portrait* (1789) is a delicate miniature watercolor on ivory, measuring just 1 3/4 x 1 1/4 inches—perfectly sized for a locket or brooch. Created in the early years of the American Republic, shortly after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, this work captures the artist at around age 40, reflecting the personal introspection of a burgeoning national identity. Peale, a prominent Philadelphia painter and younger brother of Charles Willsonale, was a master of such miniatures, which served as cherished keepsakes for families and sweethearts. The choice of watercolor on ...

About the Artist

James Peale

James Peale was an American painter born in 1749, the younger brother of the more famous Charles Willson Peale, and a member of one of the most remarkable artistic families in the history of American art. Trained largely by his brother, James worked for many years in Charles Willson's shadow, assisting with portraits and miniatures in the Philadelphia studio before developing his own independent p...