Why was this painting made? Did those two ladies request a portrait or were they royalty or something?
Those two women are sisters named Eleanor and Rosalba Peale. They were also the daughters of the artist who made this portrait, Rembrandt Peale. Notice the painter's palette in front of them! Peale had nine children, and several of them also became artists.
Tell me more.
The two women in this portrait are sisters named Eleanor and Rosalba Peale. They are the daughters of the artist, Rembrandt Peale.
Peale had nine children in total, and a number of them became artists themselves. Apparently, Peale based this composition on David's portrait of the Bonaparte daughters. Peale met David while visiting Paris.