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Pen, brown ink, and brown wash on paper; 177 x 122 mm. The British Museum, London, England.
Inscribed on top: Mr. Stewart, painting Mr. West's portrait, 1783
Pen, brown ink, and brown wash on paper; 177 x 122 mm. The British Museum, London, England.
Inscribed on top: Mr. Stewart, painting Mr. West's portrait, 1783
Charles Willson Peale, despite his devotion to the taxonomic and contemplative majesty of the natural world, nevertheless loved novelties and used all sorts of amusements to attract customers to his museum. He eventually resorted to hiring a popular musical performer who played five different instruments simultaneously, using all parts of his body. Following Peale’s death the museum passed into the enterprising hands of P. T. Barnum, becoming part of his traveling circus — a romantic ending for an Enlightenment institution.