James Claypoole, Sr. (January 22, 1720/21September 21, 1784) was an American portrait painter, house painter, and glazier. He was born in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

, the son of Joseph Claypoole (1677-1740/41)Records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, Burials, 1709–1760 and his second wife Edith Ward Claypoole (b. ?-d. 1737). He died in Philadelphia.

Artistic training and works

In 1741 he was still apprenticed to

Gustavus Hesselius Gustavus Hesselius ( – May 25, 1755) was a Swedish-born American painter. He was European trained and became a leading artist in the mid-Atlantic colonies during the first half of the eighteenth century. He was among the earliest portrait paint ...

(1682–1755), a Swedish-born painter who resided in Philadelphia. It is probable that he painted the portraits of his brother, George Claypoole Sr. (1706-c1770), and sister-in-law, Hannah Claypoole (ca 1708–1745), as the portraits were in the household of George Claypoole, Sr., joiner and cabinetmaker, also shop keeper, Front Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Ca 1770 – portraits inherited by George and Hannah Claypoole's eldest son, George Claypoole Jr., (1733–1793), joiner and cabinet maker, of 65 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Ca 1793 – portraits inherited by George Jr. and Mary (Parkhouse) Claypoole’s eldest and surviving son, Dr. Willam Claypoole, (1758–1797) of Wilmington, North Carolina. 1797 – portraits inherited by William and Mary (Wright) Claypoole’s only surviving child, Ann Grainger Claypoole, (ca 1791–1832) of Wilmington, North Carolina. Owned since 1984 by the Colonial Dames of Wilmington, North Carolina. He had two early students that went on to become well known artists: James Claypoole, Jr. (ca 1743–1822), and

Matthew Pratt Matthew Pratt (September 23, 1734 – January 9, 1805) was an American "Colonial Era" artist famous for his portraits of American men and women. Early life He was born in Philadelphia, Province of Pennsylvania, to goldsmith Henry Pratt and Re ...

(1734–1805). He served as High Sheriff of Philadelphia from 1777–1780. Commissioned and paid $8 by Captain Abram Markoe in 1775 to paint a flag for the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse.

Marriages and children

He married Rebecca White (1721–1749) on May 24, 1742, at

Christ Church, Philadelphia Christ Church is an Episcopal church in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1695 as a parish of the Church of England, it played an integral role in the founding of the Protestant Episcopal Chu ...

. He had three children from this marriage: * James Claypoole Jr., (1743–1822); * Joseph Claypoole (1745-?); and, * Mary Claypoole, (1746–1746). After Rebecca's death on July 19, 1749 he married Mary Chambers (d. 1796) in September 1750 and had nine children with her: * Elizabeth Claypoole Copper Matlack, (1751-ca 1820); She first married Norris Copper and second Timothy Matlack * Mary Claypoole Peale (1753–1829); married James Peale younger brother to

Charles Willson Peale Charles Willson Peale (April 15, 1741 – February 22, 1827) was an American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist. In 1775, inspired by the American Revolution, Peale moved from his native Maryland to Philadelphia, where he set ...

* Abraham George Claypoole, (1754–1827); * David Chambers Claypoole, (1757–1849); * Temperance Claypoole, (1759-1815); * Helen Claypoole (?-?); * Rebecca Claypoole, (?-?); * Hester Claypoole Allen, (1763-?); and, she married Joseph Allen * Septimus Claypoole, (1764–1798).Genealogy
/ref> He was father-in-law to both the miniature portraitist James Peale and Col. Timothy Matlack (1730–1829), a Free Quaker, merchant, surveyor, architect, statesman, and patriot in the American Revolution.

Death

He died on September 21, 1784, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is interred at Old Saint Pauls Episcopal Church Cemetery, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A portrait of James Claypoole Sr. by James Peale and/or

is in the

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) is a museum and private art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1805, it is the longest continuously operating art museum and art school in the United States. The academy's museum ...

, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Claypoole, James 1720s births 1784 deaths Painters from Philadelphia People from colonial Pennsylvania 18th-century American painters 18th-century American male artists American male painters American portrait painters