early life and training charles peale polk, a celebrated american portrait painter, was born on march 17, 1767, in annapolis, maryland. following the passing of his parents at a young age, polk was sent to live with his uncle, charles willson peale, in philadelphia, where he received artistic training. artistic career polk's early works were largely influenced by his uncle's style, with his first dated paintings being copies of charles willson peale's portraits. as he matured as an artist, polk developed his own unique approach to portraiture. by the time he was eighteen, he had married and s…