Peale, Anna Claypoole (1791–1878)

American painter. Name variations: Anna Peale; Anna Staughton; Anna Duncan. Born Anna Claypoole Peale, Mar 6, 1791, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died in Philadelphia, Dec 25, 1878; 1st dau. of James Peale (1749–1831, painter) and Mary Claypoole Peale (1753–1829); sister of Margaretta Angelica Peale (1795–1882) and Sarah Miriam Peale (1800–1885); learned painting from father and encouraged by her famous uncle, Charles Willson Peale; m. Reverend Dr. William Staughton, 1829; m. General William Duncan, 1841 (died 1864); no children.

Painter of miniature portraits and still lifes, who pioneered in establishing a niche in professional life for American women; learned how to paint miniatures of watercolor on ivory from cousin Raphaelle Peale; probably did much of the work on father's paintings; exhibited at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA, 1811–42); elected to membership (Academician) in PAFA (1842); was a popular miniature painter whose work was in much demand (1820–41); did work in Baltimore, Boston, Washington, DC, but primarily in Philadelphia; paintings include Self-Portrait (1818), Marianne Beckett (1829), Gen. Andrew Jackson (1819), James Peale, Mrs. James Peale, Rembrandt Peale, and Nathaniel Kinsman (1820–24), Rosalba Peale (1820), Mrs. Andrew Jackson (1819), Edgar Allan Poe (1834) and Miss Susannah Williams (1825).

See also Charles H. Elam, The Peale Family: Three Generations of American Artists (Wayne State U. Press, 1967); and Women in World History.