Who painted Mrs. David Forman and Child?

Mrs. David Forman and Child was painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1793.

Where can I see Mrs. David Forman and Child?

Mrs. David Forman and Child is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is Mrs. David Forman and Child?

Mrs. David Forman and Child is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Mrs. David Forman and Child

Charles Willson Peale , 1793

Mrs. David Forman and Child is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Charles Willson Peale. It dates from 1793 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

Charles Willson Peale’s 1793 oil portrait, titled *Mrs. David Forman and Child*, depicts a seated woman in a blue dress with a white shawl, cradling a young child in a white tunic. The composition is set against a dark wall that holds a landscape painting and a table bearing red objects, creating a modest interior scene.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a quiet, intimate moment between mother and child. The woman’s serious expression and the child’s curious gaze convey a restrained tenderness, while the red berries she holds introduce a subtle symbolic element, perhaps alluding to vitality or domestic abundance within the familial setting.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the portrait shows Peale’s careful handling of light and texture characteristic of late‑18th‑century Rococo influences. Soft modeling of fabrics, delicate rendering of the woman’s up‑do hair, and the nuanced chiaroscuro on the dark background demonstrate the artist’s skill in creating depth and a gentle atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Painted shortly after Peale’s service in the Continental Army and his tenure in the Pennsylvania State Assembly, the portrait entered the Brooklyn Museum’s collection in the 20th century. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s focus on early American portraiture and the artist’s role in documenting prominent families of the period.

Context

Peale, renowned for portraits of notable American figures, often combined his scientific interests with artistic practice. This domestic scene aligns with his broader oeuvre, which includes both public personalities and private family members, illustrating the social standing of the Forman family within post‑Revolutionary Philadelphia.