Charles Willson Peale Portrayed by Bob Gleason
Painter, soldier, scientist, inventor, politician and naturalist, Charles Willson Peale could truly be considered one of the founding generation’s greatest Renaissance Men. He was motivated by a seemingly endless curiosity including carpentry, dentistry, optometry, shoemaking, taxidermy, and painting. It was his love of art would take him to Europe where he studied under arguably the best painter of the times, American ex-patriot, Benjamin West. Unlike his mentor though, Peale believed in the great promise and possibilities of the New World and his home country in America. He returned to the Colonies, joined General Washington’s Army to help win American Independence, and after the War immortalized in portraiture many of our founding fathers and mothers. Peale’s catalog of work is one of the most complete collections of “Who’s who” of the Founding Generation and one of the most important lasting contributions to our present understanding of the Men and Women who framed this Nation.
Peale also had a great interest in natural history, and organized the first U.S. scientific expedition in 1801. These two major interests combined in his founding of what became the Philadelphia Museum, later known as Peale's American Museum. It housed a diverse collection of botanical, biological, and archaeological specimens.
Oh, the stories he will tell… Like the artist Charles Willson Peale, AHT’s Bob Gleason is fascinated by everyone and everything in the world around him, and they both enjoy collecting.
Peale is perfect for gatherings of artists, collectors, veterans, members of the Society of the Cincinnati and events sponsored by museums.
Bob Gleason: Bio Actor/Historian, Interpreter, Reenactor, Impersonator