John Beale Bordley c. 1770

Charles Willson Peale painted this miniature portrait of John Beale Bordley, using watercolor on ivory. Peale was deeply embedded in the social and political life of his time, fighting in the Revolutionary War, and he named his sons after his heroes, Rembrandt and Raphael. Here, Peale captures Bordley with a soft, almost vulnerable gaze, a glimpse beneath the veneer of 18th-century gentry. In its intimate scale, this miniature suggests a personal connection, a token of affection or respect. Given that both Peale and Bordley were members of the American Philosophical Society, perhaps this piece speaks to the intellectual and social circles of the time, to the relationships that shaped a new nation's identity. This tiny portrait encapsulates the complex interplay between personal identity, social standing, and the revolutionary spirit of the era.