Peale's Museum

Title: Peale’s Museum

Year: 1784-1794

Material: Oil on Wood

Creator: James Peale Sr.

Collection: American Philosophical Society

Peale's Museum

During last week’s visit to the American Philosophical Society, I was drawn to a small, simply framed oil painting, entitled Peale’s Museum. While many of the objects in the exhibit, Jefferson, Philadelphia and the Founding of a Nation were intricate prints of buildings, manuscripts and large portraits, this tiny painting, approximately 7X9 inches in size, caught my eye. The image centers on several red brick and brown rooftops. Windows and chimneys protrude from the buildings forming numerous angles. A wooden fence appears at the foreground, with some white items hanging over the top (clothes, perhaps?). Overall, the lines and textures of the painting are soft and some of the forms are indistinct.

Presented in a narrative museum voice, the object label is crucial to identifying the object and understanding why it is on display. I was particularly interested to learn that the skylight in the center of the painting was the first skylight in Philadelphia. The sky-lit room within was Peale’s first portrait gallery!  It would be challenging to rely on visual clues to identify the painting’s subject or significance.

Mastodon Bones

What is that significance, you ask? Peale’s Museum, and other objects displayed nearby contribute to a larger narrative about the history of the building where the APS Museum now stands, and gives insight into early members of the American Philosophical Society, including Charles Wilson Peale. In 1786, Peale opened the first museum of natural history in the United States. First at 3^rd and Lombard Streets (as depicted in the painting), the museum was relocated to Independence Hall and then Philosophical Hall (the building where is it currently on display). The object could be important to APS members, historians, and anyone who is interested in the history of Philadelphia, art, museology, science, and quirky specimens (Peale had many-check out those bones!).

Seeing that Charles Wilson Peale was a member of APS, and that his brother created the artwork, perhaps the painting was directly acquired from the Peale family.

The painting is displayed slightly above eye level near the middle of a short wall that is otherwise empty. However, due to the placement of other objects, and the fact that the exhibition space is not entirely square, the painting almost feels tucked away in a corner. Speaking with my classmates, some commented that they had initially walked by the painting without seeing it.

Admission Ticket

The Artist in His Museum

The painting hangs behind a glass case that displays an admission ticket to the Peale Museum and a print of Charles Wilson Peale proudly standing in his museum. These objects help to bring the story of the Peale Museum to life—the richly illustrated ticket depicts works in the collection, represents the admission process, and also serves as a museum memento (I often save ticket stubs to events and concerts, don't you?). Peering beyond Peale in the foreground, the print The Artist in His Museum gives viewers a sneak peek into the Peale's collection, animating his cabinet of curiosities. While these objects contribute significantly to our understanding of Peale’s Museum, the positioning of the display case adds to this “tucked-away-in-a-corner” feeling. Perhaps these few objects are an intentional aside, as the exhibit primarily focuses on Thomas Jefferson. Visitors could find this side narrative to be refreshing, while others might be perplexed by why is it included in the exhibition.

This painting may not be as interesting to Thomas Jefferson buffs whose sole purpose of visiting the APS museum is to view the content directly associated with him. Disinterest could also stem from a slight accessibility issue; the painting’s small size and placement within the gallery may be prohibitive for some viewers, particularly on a crowded day. 

The Peale Museum collection included paintings, sculpture and a large collection of taxidermied birds and animals. To discover more about Peale and his collection, spend some time online or curl up with a book, such as Charles Wilson Peale and His World by Edgar P. Richardson and Mr. Peale's Museum: Charles Willson Peale and the First Popular Museum of Natural Science and Art by Charles Coleman Sellers (quite a title, right?).

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The Artist in His Museum

A visit to PAFA might also enrich my understanding of this object, as they have several objects in their collect that were created by or relate to Charles Wilson Peale. One painting for instance, The Old Museum, by Reubens Peale,elaborates on James Peale's painting. He added a garden and a "Peale Museum” sign to the scene. PAFA also has a oil on canvas iteration of the print on view at the APS Museum.

The Old Museum

To further engage audiences with this object, I could create an interactive that invites viewers 'inside the painting' to explore the art and scientific specimens that were part of Peale’s collection. Viewers could view a gallery of images, tag their favorites, and create their own virtual cabinet of curiosities. Prior to developing any kind of programming or experience, I would likely attempt to change the placement of Peale’s Museum so that it is easier to view.