Apr 14, 2026 10:00 EST
An American Story: Paintings / Peale Family Paintings / Historic Hudson Valley / Silver & Furniture
30
Mary Jane Peale
Peale Family Paintings from the Estate of J. Ashley and Pamela Patterson Roach
American, 1827-1902
Portrait of Charles Willson Peale as an Artist, After Rembrandt Peale, circa 1874
Inscribed Copied by Mary J. Peale / 1874 from Portrait of / Charles W. Peale / Aged 71 from life by his / Son Rembrandt Peale on the reverse
Oil on canvas
30 1/8 x 25 1/8 inches
Provenance:
The artist
Sister-in-law Mary Rebecca Frisby Wilmer Peale (1838-1921), Mrs. James Burd Peale
Daughters Caroline Elise and Elisabeth "Elsie" Burd Peale (1875-1931)
Sister Caroline Elise Peale (1872-1943)
Sister Rebecca Burd Peale Patterson (1881-1952)
Granddaughter Pamela Shippen Patterson (Roach) (1943-2013)
Trust of Pamela Patterson Roach, 2013
Trust of Joseph Ashley Roach, 2024-present
Exhibited:
Baltimore, MD, The Peale Museum, Seven Painting Peales From Charles Willson to Mary Jane, Oct. 3 to Nov. 28, 1971. Loan extended through 1974.
Notes:
The artist was born days before the death of her paternal grandfather, Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), the American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist. Many of Peale's children and grandchildren became prominent artists in their own right, including Mary Jane Peale. This portrait is believed to be in its original frame.
As a mature painter, the artist chose to copy an original by her uncle, Rembrandt Peale, which she described in her diaries as "considered one of the best likenesses ever taken of him." From a young age, Mary Jane Peale benefited from the tutelage of her artistic family. Rembrandt Peale encouraged her to observe him, and he began sending her explicit instructions on portrait painting by 1850. Mary commissioned a portrait by her uncle in 1859 so that she "might see the method of painting a portrait." (see Lot ...) Six years later, Mary copied her own portrait; the copy remains in a private collection.
The original portrait was shown at the Royal Academy in London in 1833 and has been in the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania since 1992.
We would like to thank Elise Peale Patterson Gelpi and Tina Roach for their kind assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Framed 40 x 34 1/2 inches
Sold for $20,480
Estimated at $7,000 - $9,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Peale Family Paintings from the Estate of J. Ashley and Pamela Patterson Roach
American, 1827-1902
Portrait of Charles Willson Peale as an Artist, After Rembrandt Peale, circa 1874
Inscribed Copied by Mary J. Peale / 1874 from Portrait of / Charles W. Peale / Aged 71 from life by his / Son Rembrandt Peale on the reverse
Oil on canvas
30 1/8 x 25 1/8 inches
Provenance:
The artist
Sister-in-law Mary Rebecca Frisby Wilmer Peale (1838-1921), Mrs. James Burd Peale
Daughters Caroline Elise and Elisabeth "Elsie" Burd Peale (1875-1931)
Sister Caroline Elise Peale (1872-1943)
Sister Rebecca Burd Peale Patterson (1881-1952)
Granddaughter Pamela Shippen Patterson (Roach) (1943-2013)
Trust of Pamela Patterson Roach, 2013
Trust of Joseph Ashley Roach, 2024-present
Exhibited:
Baltimore, MD, The Peale Museum, Seven Painting Peales From Charles Willson to Mary Jane, Oct. 3 to Nov. 28, 1971. Loan extended through 1974.
Notes:
The artist was born days before the death of her paternal grandfather, Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827), the American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist. Many of Peale's children and grandchildren became prominent artists in their own right, including Mary Jane Peale. This portrait is believed to be in its original frame.
As a mature painter, the artist chose to copy an original by her uncle, Rembrandt Peale, which she described in her diaries as "considered one of the best likenesses ever taken of him." From a young age, Mary Jane Peale benefited from the tutelage of her artistic family. Rembrandt Peale encouraged her to observe him, and he began sending her explicit instructions on portrait painting by 1850. Mary commissioned a portrait by her uncle in 1859 so that she "might see the method of painting a portrait." (see Lot ...) Six years later, Mary copied her own portrait; the copy remains in a private collection.
The original portrait was shown at the Royal Academy in London in 1833 and has been in the collection of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania since 1992.
We would like to thank Elise Peale Patterson Gelpi and Tina Roach for their kind assistance in cataloguing this lot.
Framed 40 x 34 1/2 inches
Craquelure; careful spots of inpainting in the face; further inpainting in the subject's cravat and in the background remnants of old varnish can be seen under UV light.
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
Auction: An American Story: Paintings / Peale Family Paintings / Historic Hudson Valley / Silver & Furniture, Apr 14, 2026
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Successful Auction of American Paintings & Prints on April 14, 2026 Surpasses Expectations
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Featuring Peale Family Paintings from the Estate of J. Ashley & Pamela Patterson Roach
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And Property Deaccesssioned from Historic Hudson Valley
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Part of the Two-Day An American Story Auction Celebrating Our Nation's Semiquincentennial
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY – With spirited competition from collectors, art advisors and institutions, Doyle’s sale of American Paintings & Prints on April 14, 2026 achieved exceptional results. Part of the highly-successful two-day An American Story auction celebrating the nation’s Semiquincentennial, the sale featured fine examples of portraiture, still lifes, nautical scenes, and Hudson River, Western and regional landscapes, as well as a selection of Audubon prints.
Peale Family Paintings from the Estate of J. Ashley & Pamela Patterson Roach
A special section of the sale presented Peale Family Paintings from the Estate of J. Ashley & Pamela Patterson Roach, highlighted by an 1849 portrait of an enslaved woman by Mary Jane Peale (1827-1902) that achieved $349,750. This remarkable collection comprised works by three generations of the Peale family of artists. Read More
N. C. Wyeth’s Final Mural Project
A large-scale mural by N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945) titled Crows in Winter from 1941 realized a strong $117,340 against an estimate of $80,000-120,000. In 1940, Wyeth was commissioned to paint a series of murals for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company’s New York headquarters. The New England Series comprised nearly twenty monumental paintings depicting the spirit of New England. Property from a Prominent Corporate Collection, Crows in Winter was one of four works in the series representing the seasons.
Charles Courtney Curran
A lovely work by American Impressionist artist Charles Courtney Curran (1861–1942) from 1908 achieved an exceptionally strong $102,100, many times its estimate of $15,000-25,000. Highly skilled at rendering sunlight, Curran’s signature works often show graceful female figures in landscapes, such as the scene depicted in A Breezy Day.
Property Deaccessioned from Historic Hudson Valley
Among the artworks was property deaccessioned by Historic Hudson Valley. Founded in 1951, Historic Hudson Valley is a 501(c)(3) organization that interprets and promotes historic landmarks of national significance in the Hudson Valley.
Session II: American Silver, Furniture & Decorative Arts / April 15
A second session of the An American Story auction on Wednesday, April 15 offered American Silver, Furniture & Decorative Arts including Property Deaccessioned from Historic Hudson Valley. Read More
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
