Mrs. John Nicholson (Hannah Duncan) and John Nicholson, Jr.

1790

Peale was a prominent figure in the cultural and scientific life of Philadelphia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Mrs. John Nicholson (Hannah Duncan) and John Nicholson, Jr. is a tender portrait of mother and child. The natural backdrop and sprig of flowers in the boy’s hand signal a domestic bond. Mrs. Nicholson’s uncorseted dress and freely coiffed hair (without a wig) likewise speak to the humanistic ideals of the Enlightenment.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Charles Willson Peale (American, 1741–1827)

Date

1790

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

91.5 × 69.3 cm (36 × 27 5/16 in.)

Origin

Philadelphia

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Carter H. Harrison