The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-22
rEALE's PORTRAIT OF WASHINGTON.
Letters Now First Published Telling How the
Famous Picture Was Painted

| Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEWARK, N. j., Jan. 20. Anthony J. Keasby,
| of this CITY, one of the most prominent lawyers
| of the State. recently engaged in the admin
| istration of an estate that involved, among
| other things. the ownership of copy by Rem
| brandt Peale of his original portrait of Wash
| ington, and also copy of Peale's fathers por-
| trait of Mrs Washington. The executor of the
| Peale estate. ex-senator VIM. Fl. Platt, was
appealed to, aud he furnished bundle of old
letters from the artist himself, which
not only settled the question in litigation
but brought to light several decidedly interest
ing letters concerning those famous portraits.
The copies Of these letters, which 1 insert in
this correspondence, were never before pub
lished, and they exact copies. Peale died in
Philadelphia in 1860, and the letters to Plat
were written six years before. in 1854. 1t will
be remembered that Peale was only eighteen
years old when he painted washingtons por-
trait, and that will explain somewhat how he
was writing about it as late as 1854. He died at
ripe old age, however as he was born in ITS.
Peale's portrait of Washington evinced the tai
emit of tho young artist. bat Peale himself never
considered that he achieved fame until after he
returned from London in 1909, where he studied
under Benjamin West
The following letter tells its own story of the
way in which the artist painted the portrait of
the Father of his Country. 1t is directed to Mr..
Plat, and dated Philadelphia March, 1854:
Dear Sir-By Adams's Express I send your copy Of
my Washington, and shall with pleasure Immediately
finish for you portrait of Mrs. Washington. which
had begun for another destination weeks ago.
When Washington sat TO me, in 1875, the latter
part OF September. he came to my room at O'Clock.
each time, he entered, in the act of putting his
watch into his fop, thus giving example of
punctuaity. which have since enforced on all my
sitters- My father. old acquaintance, kept him
conversation which enabled study his counte-
with him. as he was hesitating whether or not to sign
jays treaty with England, and further, he
ters which, 1T asserted were taken on the person
of runaway servant. No ventured speak
scend, unasked, to deny them. My uncle james
Psale Jealous politician at the SECOND sitting he
write those leters!sto which he replied L never lost
any letters No servant of mine ever ran away from
me-. He then talked at ease other subjects but
my uncle went ont, telling his to everybody
he knew and in two hours ali Philadelphia was re-
Beforel the invention of porcelain teeth on gold
plates it the practice of the dentist to fashion
them from blocks of sea-horse ivory. One of these
sets were made BE- the elder IGardette for General
Washington but it was fortunate for me that he
to without them. as they just finished, and
were clumsy d@uneomfortable and distending his
mouth that be finally rejected them. and it was
equally unfortunate for Stewart that his portrait rep
him he appeared for short time with them
looking as Judge Washington informed me. as If
as Stuart himself Informed a prsssnng HIM
from holding Uapy conversation, Che ignorant
of the cause) essential the production of an
mated likeness. Thad another advantage. By sitting
early in tha morning had his hair before it
curled and powdered By the barber-after which
hour Mr.. Stuarts portrait painted
painted this portrait with but lit tie reference to
any pecuniary cb4rp ensatioa but for my hearts
satisfaction to tAs with Europe proudly TO lie
valued theF ather of Country. and the revered
of all nations Never offered it Congress- bat the
Senate fatteredRae into their acquisition of il by
unanimous vote supported by Henry Clay. who de
clared that If he could have his will Not onN
room in the Caffao but every house in the Uaited
States should haTShe portrait of Washington in il.
1t is the reward of my enthusiastic excitement
IN producing ithAAd 1t is mr. devotional duty, in