Peale Family Paintings from the Estate of J. Ashley and Pamela Patterson Roach

Rembrandt Peale (American, 1778-1860)

An important series of seven signed correspondence items written to Mary Jane Peale and regarding his portrait of her. Seven autograph letters and notes by Rembrandt Peale to his niece Mary Jane Peale (1827-1902), each signed. Comprising: 1) Autograph letter signed to Mary Jane Peale regarding her portrait. Philadelphia: 21 December 1857. A two-page letter in ink signed “Rembrandt Peale” on the recto and verso on a bifolium with a short postscript on the third page, the letter written to Mary Jane Peale and discussing his pricing of a portrait of her. Usual folds; 2) A note signed in full “Rembrandt Peale”, no date, a one-page note on a small sheet of lined stationery, the letter regarding the timing of his painting of Mary Jane’s portrait, creases; 3) A short note signed “R. Peale,” one-page on a small sheet, addressed to Mary and regarding the day in which he will paint her portrait; 4) A note signed “R. Peale,” addressed to Mary and dated 1 January 1859, the one-page note regarding the day in which he will begin her portrait, the left margin torn away touching a few words; 5) A note signed “Rembrandt Peale”, dated 22 August 1859, addressed to Mary and forwarding her portrait and mentioning her new Painting Room and “the young artist, my brother’ (referring to Rubens Peale), the one-page note on a sheet of lined stationery; 6) a note signed “R. Peale” to Mary regarding the day she will sit for the portrait, with the original envelope, folds; and 7) A receipt in the hand of Rembrandt Peale, dated 2 April 1959, one-page on a rectangular slip, being a receipt made out to Mary Jane Peale acknowledging payment for her portrait. Folds.

Provenance: Rembrandt Peale (American, 1778-1860) to his niece Mary Jane Peale (1827-1902); to sister-in-law Rebecca Wilmer Peale (1838-1921) (Mary Rebecca Frisby Wilmer Peale, wife of James Burd Peale, MD); To daughters Caroline Elise and Elisabeth "Elsie" Burd Peale (1875-1931); To sister Caroline Elise Peale (1872-1943); To sister Rebecca Burd Peale Patterson (1881-1952); To granddaughter Pamela Shippen Patterson (Roach) (1943-2013); To Trust of Pamela Patterson Roach, 2013; To Trust of Joseph Ashley Roach, 2024-present

An important series of correspondence offering a fine association between Rembrandt Peale, the most accomplished artist son of Charles Willson Peale, and his niece Mary Jane Peale, daughter of Rembrandt's brother Rubens. Mary Jane is not only a major 19th-century artist, but she was also the last member of the distinguished Peale family to paint professionally. In this series of letters, we gain great insight into Rembrandt's working method late in his life. While Mary Jane was his niece, she did not seem to have been granted any discount or family courtesy. A wonderfully insightful line comes in the first and longest letter in this group, in which Rembrandt writes:

"I know you have long wanted me to paint a Portrait of yourself. You ask my lowest price - my card as you have seen it on my mantel piece states it 100 dollars - it used to be 80 - Sully's price now. I raised it, partly on account of the difficulty which I find in regulating my glasses to suit my change of vision, & partly from the fact that I would rather paint no more Portraits to please others, but confine myself to Fancy Pieces to please myself, & to develop as beautiful a style of colouring as I could wish."

Rembrandt continues offering to paint the portrait because he is "aware of your motive in wishing it - not only to possess a good head from my hand, but to profit by the occasion to learn as much as you can of the Art to which you are devoted." In the balance of the notes, Rembrandt delays the portrait sittings due to weather or funerals, and, when the portrait is finally finished is pleased that he can deliver it in a reused box rather than having her charged for a new one! Such correspondence relating to a known portrait between these precocious family members is rare.

Please note that Rembrandt's painting of Mary Jane, known as Portrait of Mary Jane Peale, Ruben's Daughter, 1859, is offered in this collection.