1To Thomas Jefferson from Rembrandt Peale, 7 December 1825 (Jefferson Papers)
For the purpose of promptly answering your Letter of the 29 th ult. I sit down immediately to give you my opinion of the merits of M r Debreet. For a long while he was engaged in Baltimore ornamenting Windsor chairs for Mess rs Finley, where I became acquainted with him—And it is only of late that he has attempted to make Pictures of Landscapes. I cannot but think his practice on the Chairs...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Rembrandt Peale, 8 January 1824 (Jefferson Papers)
The Artist who is devoted to his pencil seldom writes with his pen, yet I am induced to take up mine to inform you that my pencil, which of late was employd in the Court of Death, is now performing the mighty act of resuscitating the form of Washington. Although he sat to me for an original Portrait in 1795, and both my father & Stuart painted him in the same year, yet neither of Those...
3Rembrandt Peale to Thomas Jefferson, 13 July 1813 (Jefferson Papers)
In a Box of Books which general Armstrong presented to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine-Arts there were packed up several articles belonging to himself which he requested me to take charge of, It was a long time after I had them before I remarked a small package for you, containing 3 Stones which you were desirous of possessing, accompanied with a letter from the gentleman who purchased them...
4Thomas Sully to Thomas Jefferson, 22 December 1811 (Jefferson Papers)
An association has lately been formed in this City consisting of Artists, & Amateurs, residing in different parts of the Union; Under the Title of Society of Artists of U.S. I am requested to communicate to you in the name of the Society . That you were unanimously elected a m an Honorary member at a special meeting held on the 15 th inst : Your love for the Arts & Sciences, and your long &...
5To James Madison from Rembrandt Peale, 11 June 1809 (Madison Papers)
Having just learned by the National Intelligencer that the Enterprise will sail without delay, my fear of appearing importunate is overruled by my fevered anxiety to enter upon the glorious undertaking which has been offered to my Ambition & love of my Art. If it is not possible I must be satisfied—but if it is possible to profit by this opportunity for me & my family to pass unmolested into...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Rembrandt Peale, [24 March 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
I take the earliest opportunity of informing you that the Copy is now finished & shall be disposed of according to any Orders you may send. In order to have furnished you with an accurate likeness, as well as to be myself possessed of one more to my Satisfaction, I could have wished for an opportunity, without imposing too disagreable a task, to have made some improvement in both with an hour...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Rembrandt Peale, 1 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
To your flattering Communication , an immediate answer was unavoidably prevented. I shall feel happy in being able to furnish you with an accurate Copy of your Portrait, at my usual price 30 Dollars—which shall be immediately begun and finished as soon as possible. It has met with general approbation, but from the difficulty of the front face, I am afraid the marks of Copy may not be so much...
8To John Adams from Rembrandt Peale, 17 December 1800 (Adams Papers)
I take the liberty of addressing a few lines to your Attention; when it must otherwise be much engaged—I shall therefore be explicit. My fondness to my Professional Art is in some degree known to you; perhaps it may be more so, when I declare, that it is my Utmost Ambition to be eminent in it. My Youth and fondness have supported me as yet in an unfavorable Soil; but I am prompted to hope that...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Rembrandt Peale, 17 December 1800 (Jefferson Papers)
My Knowledge of your fondness for the fine Arts, is my only excuse for troubling you with this Letter; prepossessed at the same time with the idea that you are particularly interested in the perfection of American Genius, and must feel Satisfaction in being the Instrument of forwarding it. Devoted to the practice of my Art, with but poor encouragement & without scarcely having any Models but...