Portrait of the Ballance Family, ca.1852

Painted by James Wilkins, Peoria, IL
Oil on canvas

Charles Ballance, a prominent attorney in Peoria and mayor in 1855, included his wife Julia and their seven children in this portrait. Julia bore an additional three children after the portrait was painted. Motherhood was idealized and highly respected among Victorians. Most women expected a child every two to three years and families of ten children or more were typical. Few families, however, achieved the economic and material success of the Ballances. Charles placed a high value on education and built the first schoolhouse in Peoria in 1846.

Property transfer from the Illinois State Historical Library (1980.88)

Decoration

© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96