Rubens Peale

Rubens Peale (1784-1865) was the artist’s cousin and the son of Charles Willson Peale. He abandoned a painting career due to weak eyesight and his glasses are a hallmark of the portraits painted of him. Rubens pursued a career in museum management, running the Philadelphia Museum (founded by his father) from 1810 to 1822, a family museum in Baltimore from 1822 to 1825, and the Peale Museum in New York City from 1825 to 1837. The financial panic of 1837 destroyed his livelihood, and he retired to his father-in-law’s estate and lived out his life as a country gentleman.