C. 1789 Maker: Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)
Medium: Engraving
Museum Purchase in 1951
In addition to his work as a portraitist, naturalist, and museum professional, Maryland born artist Charles Willson Peale produced several important engravings in the late 18th century. He grew up in Annapolis and apprenticed to become a saddlemaker on what is now Main Street. He opened his own shop but disliked the trade. Peale started painting as an amateur in the early 1760’s and showed such promise a group of wealthy Annapolis men sent him to England in 1767 to study under American expat artist Benjamin West (1738-1820). There, Peale absorbed the artistic styles of Europe. Peale’s engraving depicts the Annapolis workshops of Scottish-American cabinetmakers John Shaw and Archibald Chisholm to the left of the State House, and to the right the octagonal outhouse built by Shaw known as “The Temple” and the Little Treasury building built in 1729.
By Rachel Lovett, Curator
