Live Auction 2058Important American Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)
Lot 55 The Estate of Ann Humphreville, San Diego, California

Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)

Portrait of James W. DePeyster

Closed4 December 2008

Price Realised

USD 104,500

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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.)

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.

Specialist note

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.)