Notes on Charles Willson Peale Portraits

I went to the BMA and saw the Charles Willson Peale portrait of the Thomas Johnson Family. It is hanging in the American Wing, in the second hall on the right of the main hall, in the first room.

From the card next to the painting:

Notes from interpretation hanging next to the painting:

Ann Jennings (1745-1794), Thomas Johnson (1732-1819) and children Thomas, Anne, and Rebecca (who died in childhood) are represented in the portrait.
portrait begun in 1771, final payment made March 14, 1776
TJ's attire reflects prevailing interest in costume from earlier era of Anthony VanDyck
notice the lace on the sleeves and the playful black dog

My observations:

paneled room
outside the door - trees and sky, wilderness-like, nothing specific in background - possibly Frederick, but no specific landmarks designating it as such
he holds a book with his finger marking a page in the middle
light from upper left corner - not from open door
TJ looks at his wife, leans on her chair
Ann looks toward right, pearls at neck and in hair, diamonds on sleeve ornaments?, pink flower with white accents on chest and in hair, she is almost blushing
at least a small smile from everyone, infant included
TJJ looks slightly up and to the left
AJJ and Rebecca look directly at the viewer
TJJ and AJJ playing with dog
Rebecca holds an apple
AJJ has blanket on lap
painting very dark except for the light directly on the family- the background can hardly be seen
TJJ on TJ's right hand - TJ's hand is against chair and touching TJJ's arm
women all slightly turn to the left, men to the right, only the faces of the women (especially AJ) are completely lit
biggest shadow is across TJ's face
black beads around AJJ's neck
not at all like lighting in Peale's portraits of the Gittings (single portraits, in the room adjoining the Johnsons)

When I first visited the Maryland Historical Society, I could not find the Hesselius portraits of TJ and AJ, but I did find Mrs. Samuel Chase and Daughters.

From card:

Anne receives a peach (signifying virtue) from her sister Matilda

My observations:

children look at viewer but Mrs. Chase does not
not as much smiling as in TJ portrait
Mrs. Chase looks at her daughter in the same position, etc. as TJ
nothing in background
shadow across Mrs. Chase's face like TJ
lighting same as TJ
grouping the same as TJ

Return to Thomas Johnson's source file