Portrait of James W. DePeyster

Details

Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)
Portrait of James W. DePeyster
signed with conjoined initials and dated 'C.WPeale/Painted 1798' (lower left)--signed and dated again and inscribed 'James W. DePeyster painted when 53 years' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
29¾ x 25 in. (75.6 x 63.5 cm.)

Provenance

James W. DePeyster, New York, 1798.
Private collection, by descent.
Christie's, New York, 19 May 2005, lot 86.
Private collection, acquired from the above.
Estate of the above.

Literature

Diary of Charles Willson Peale, vol. XVI, unpublished, American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, n.p.
Autobiography of Charles Willson Peale, unpublished, American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, n.p.
"Notes and Queries," Pennsylvania Magazine, 1901.
C.C. Sellers, "Portraits and Miniatures by Charles Willson Peale," Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 42, pt. 1, 1952, p. 65.
C.C. Sellers, "Charles Willson Peale with Patron and Populace: A Supplement to Portraits and Miniatures by Charles Willson Peale," Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 59, pt. 3, 1969, n.p.
Catalogue of American Portraits in The New York Historical Society, New Haven, Connecticut, 1974, n.p.
Berry-Hill Galleries, American Paintings VIII, New York, 1999, pp. 12-13, illustrated.

Exhibited

(Probably) New York, Van Cortlandt House, Colonial Dames of America, 1913.

Lot Essay

James W. DePeyster was the uncle of Charles Willson Peale's second wife, Elizabeth DePeyster. While Peale was staying at the DePeyster's home in 1798, he painted the present portrait of James, a companion portrait of his wife Anna (San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas) and miniatures of each. Peale later wrote in his diary in June of that year: "I have painted the Portraits of Mr. James W. DePeyster and Lady in oil, also their portraits in miniature.I finished all of these portraits to the entire satisfaction of the family-" (C.C. Sellers, Portraits and Miniatures by Charles Willson Peale, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1952, p. 65.)

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