Stuart, Gilbert

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Stuart
  • Wiki Biography:
    • Gilbert Stuart December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America’s foremost portraitists. His best-known work is an unfinished portrait of George Washington, begun in 1796, which is usually referred to as the Athenaeum Portrait. Stuart retained the original and used it to paint scores of copies that were commissioned by patrons in America and abroad. The image of George Washington featured in the painting has appeared on the United States one-dollar bill for more than a century and on various postage stamps of the 19th century and early 20th century.
    • Stuart’s prospects as a portraitist were jeopardized by the onset of the American Revolution and its social disruptions. 
    • Stuart ended his 18-year stay in Britain and Ireland in 1793, leaving behind numerous unfinished paintings. He returned to the United States with a particular goal of painting a portrait of George Washington and having an engraver reproduce it and provide for his family through the engraving’s sale. He settled briefly in New York City and pursued portrait commissions from influential people who could bring him to Washington’s attention. In 1794, he painted statesman John Jay, from whom he received a letter of introduction to Washington. In 1795, Stuart moved to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, where he opened a studio, and Washington posed for him later that year.
  • Was expunged as too young during the conflict but later reinstated. Proven Loyalist in Loyalist Directory : https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=8215
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/997/gilbert-stuart