Mr. Peale's Museum: Charles Willson Peale and the First Popular Museum of Natural Science and Art
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.99 (971 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0393057003 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 370 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2015-12-15 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Wait, what am I reading about again? Starting this book, one would expect to learn about Charles Peale and his life. Instead the entire book focuses mainly on the beginnings of Peale's museum and even its success after his death. If you're looking for a book about Charles Peale's personal and social life, this isn't the book you would want to read. It's an interesting read, with a good overview of the real difficulties and challenges that Peale had to go through while starting up his new business. Even with the economic hardships, lack of funds, and competition Peale was still able to keep his wonder museum open and eventuall. "Informative" according to David McDonald. Was so pleased to find this! I work at a museum that has many Peale paintings, and often get questions about CW Peale and the Peale Museum. This helps fill in the gaps in my knowledge. Lots of detail about Peale and his family, his connections with important figures of the days and his driveto improve the public's appreciation of nature; but relatively easy reading.. Marissa said Really worth the time. If you are interested in the history of natural history museums in America as well as internationally, or collections management, this is a really worthwhile investment. It's very detailed but easy to understand, with lovely illustrations. It's one of the best "for fun" books that I've read in a long time, and it was recommended to me by a professor.
Some pose for what was, in effect, the first national portrait gallery. Others take a more active role, among them George Washington (he heads the annual membership drive and makes the first government deposita Hawaiian chief's costume), Franklin (who offers advice, a gift of minerals, and a French Angora cat) and Jefferson (President of the Museum's "Board of Visitors," he places trophies from the Lewis and Clark expedition in the Museum). We see him working night and day, painting backgrounds for his "World of Miniature" (the first time anyone had thought of displaying animal and other specimens in natural settings), mounting his finds (and inventing an improved method of taxidermy in the process), writing exhibit labels, dreaming up advertisements, and organizing his huge and rambunctious family into what must have been the most unusual museum staff of all time. We see Peale, democrat to the core, pedagogue at