Titian Ramsay Peale 1819

Charles Willson Peale created this portrait of his son, Titian Ramsay Peale, using oil on canvas. Oil paint is really interesting; it allows for layers and corrections, built up from thin, translucent glazes to thicker, more opaque brushstrokes. Think of how the artist used this method, with careful consideration of the light and shadow on the subject’s face and clothing. The way he builds the colors through layering, working wet-into-wet, and the blending, scumbling, and drybrush techniques. It's easy to see Peale's skill in how he manipulated the viscous material to depict textures and forms. This kind of naturalistic painting was hard-won, requiring extensive training. Looking at this portrait, remember that the materials, the making, and the context are crucial to fully understand the artwork's meaning, challenging old ideas about what is considered art and what is considered craft.