For Immediate Release

CHADDS FORD, PA—Now on view at the Brandywine River Museum are eight important early American portraits, a very recent gift to the museum from members of the Hare family, a family long associated with Philadelphia. The 18th and 19th century paintings represent members of the Hare family and are the work of major artists including Benjamin West, Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Henry Inman and Julian Story. These fine portraits are presented with information regarding each sitter and artist. The Brandywine River Museum is very grateful to the Hare family for donating these long-cherished portraits and proudly presents them to Museum visitors.

The American branch of the Hare family is descended from Robert Hare (1752-1858), who was born in Woolrich, Kent County, England. Hare came to Philadelphia in 1773 and two years later married Margaret Willing, with whom he had six children. He was a prominent businessman, politician, and the brewer of “Hare’s Celebrated American Porter.”

This significant Philadelphia family produced many eminent and successful doctors, teachers, lawyers, and scientists. Among them were Robert Hare (1781-1858), a leading chemist and inventor who developed the hydrostatic blow-pipe (Oxyhydrogen blow-torch); John Innis Clark Hare (1817-1907), a distinguished judge in the Philadelphia court system; Horace Binney Hare (1843-1879), eldest son of Judge Hare, who was a professor of chemistry and department chair at the University of Pennsylvania; and renowned lawyer Horace Binney (1780-1875), son of Dr. Barnabas Binney and Mary Woodrow.

Exhibited in the museum’s first floor gallery, the Hare portraits complement other fine portraits from the museum’s collection, including Ralph Earl’s depiction of Baron von Steuben and Bass Otis’s Daniel Webster, and will remain on view as part of the museum’s summer exhibition until September 2, 2005. 

Located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, the Brandywine River Museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Christmas Day. Admission is $8 for adults; $5 for seniors ages 65 and over, students with I.D., and children; and free for children under six and Brandywine Conservancy members. For more information, call 610-388-2700 or visit the museum’s web site at www.brandywinemuseum.org.

Digital photography is available.

Please call 610-388-8337 or email jmaguire@brandywine.org.