James Peale - American artist

James Peale (1749-May 24, 1831) was an American artist, best known for his tiny and still life paintings, and a younger brother of noted artist Charles Willson Peale.

Peale was born in Chestertown, Maryland, the second child, after Charles, of Charles Peale (1709–1750) and Margaret Triggs (1709–1791). His father died when he was a child, and the family moved to Annapolis. In 1762 he began to supply apprenticeships there, first in a saddlery and later in a cabinetmaking store. After his brother Charles returned from London in 1769, where he had studied with Benjamin West, Peale served as his assistant and learned how to paint.

The total number of Peale’s landscape paintings remains indefinite, but he executed more than 200 watercolor miniatures on ivory, perhaps 100 still-life paintings, less than 70 oil portraits, and at least 8 history paintings.

Peale died in Philadelphia on May 24, 1831. Three of his six kids became talented painters: Anna Claypoole Peale (1798–1871), a miniaturist and still-life artist; Margaretta Peale (1795–1882), painter of trompe l’oeil subjects and tabletop fruit; and Sarah Miriam Peale (1800–1885), a portraitist and still-life painter

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