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1770

Portrait of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader (1708–1779)

Charles Willson Peale

American, 1741 - 1827

This portrait of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader is painted in a style that is simple and subdued, consistent with his Quaker identity. A distinguished doctor known for his kindness, Cadwalader was active in Philadelphia’s cultural and scientific organizations. His erect posture and the turn of his body suggest a man interrupted while reading, giving the picture a narrative quality and adding vitality to the traditional pose.

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Charles Willson Peale, Portrait of Dr. Thomas Cadwalader (1708–1779), 1770 | Philadelphia Museum of Art