William Young 1807

James Peale painted this miniature portrait of William Young, likely in the early 19th century. Its small size speaks to its function: a personal memento, perhaps worn as jewelry, allowing the sitter to carry an image of their loved one with them. Peale came from an artistic family deeply embedded in the cultural life of the early American Republic. His brother, Charles Willson Peale, founded one of the first public museums in the United States, a space dedicated to displaying natural history specimens alongside portraits of leading citizens. James Peale's miniatures, like this one of William Young, participated in this project of nation-building. Through portraiture, the Peales shaped a visual culture that defined the social status of elites, even as the nation itself was undergoing radical social and political change. Understanding the world of art is contingent on grasping social and institutional context, and you can find out more about the Peale family, their museum, and their artistic output through their surviving letters, diaries, and publications.