Peter f rothermel biography channel

Peter Frederick Rothermel (July 8, 1817 – August 15, 1895) was an American painter.

Biography

Rothermel was born in Nescopeck, Pennsylvania in 1817, although some date his birth earlier, in 1813 or 1814.

He had a common-school education, and studied land surveying.[1] At age 20, he moved to Philadelphia and became a sign painter.[2] Then at age 22, he took up the study of art. He was instructed in drawing by John Rubens Smith, and subsequently became a pupil of Bass Otis in Philadelphia.[1]

His 1844 work De Soto discovering the Mississippi was purchased by the Art Union and marked his first success as an artist.[2] He served as vice president of the Artists' Fund Society in 1844 and as director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts from 1847 to 1855.[1]

During 1856-1859 he was in Europe, residing for about two years in Rome, and visiting also the principal cities in England, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy.

On his return to the United States, he settled in Philadelphia ag