John Penniman painted this reunion of a soldier with his family while he was still an apprentice. He probably based the picture on a 1797 British engraving entitled "The Parent Restored, or the Blessings of Peace." It was common in the eighteenth century for artists to borrow compositions and ideas from prints. Like its British model, Penniman's painting is a conversation piece showing a family group in an outdoor setting. Although the soldier's wife, son, and dog in "Family Group" are pleased to welcome him home, the younger child is reticent, perhaps not remembering the father after a long absence. Cast to the side for this scene of familial happiness are the soldier's hat and sword. The expression of affection within the family and the casual poses are new elements in American painting. Acting with exuberance characteristic of children, the little boy clambers onto his father's lap. The man on the right, whose features are more individualized than those of the other figures, may be the painter himself.
Penniman was a versatile artist, known for the elegance of his ornamental painting of furniture, clocks, and mirrors. One of the earliest lithographers in the country, he also painted portraits, landscapes, and religious subjects.

This text was adapted from Carol Troyen and Janet Comey, "Children in American Art" (Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 2007, in Japanese).

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