28 Facts About Gilbert Stuart

Gilbert Stuart was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.

Gilbert Stuart's best-known work is an unfinished portrait of George Washington, begun in 1796, which is usually referred to as the Athenaeum Portrait.

Gilbert Stuart produced portraits of about 1,000 people, including the first six Presidents.

Gilbert Stuart was the third child of Gilbert Stuart, a Scottish immigrant employed in the snuff-making industry, and Elizabeth Anthony Stuart, a member of a prominent land-owning family from Middletown, Rhode Island.

Gilbert Stuart's father owned the first snuff mill in America, which was located in the basement of the family homestead.

Gilbert Stuart moved to Newport, Rhode Island, at the age of six, where his father pursued work in the merchant field.

Under the guidance of Alexander, Gilbert Stuart painted the portrait Dr Hunter's Spaniels when he was 14; it hangs today in the Hunter House Mansion in Newport.

In 1771, Gilbert Stuart moved to Scotland with Alexander to finish his studies; however, Alexander died in Edinburgh one year later.

Gilbert Stuart tried to maintain a living and pursue his painting career, but to no avail, so he returned to Newport in 1773.

Gilbert Stuart's painting style during this period began to develop beyond the relatively hard-edged and linear style that he had learned from Alexander.

Gilbert Stuart was unsuccessful at first in pursuit of his vocation, but he became a protege of Benjamin West in 1777 and studied with him for the next six years.

The relationship was beneficial, with Gilbert Stuart exhibiting for the first time at the Royal Academy in spring of 1777.

Gilbert Stuart said that he was "suddenly lifted into fame by a single picture".

Gilbert Stuart ended his 18-year stay in Britain and Ireland in 1793, leaving behind numerous unfinished paintings.

Gilbert Stuart 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.

Gilbert Stuart settled briefly in New York City and pursued portrait commissions from influential people who could bring him to Washington's attention.

In 1795, Gilbert Stuart moved to the Germantown section of Philadelphia, where he opened a studio, and Washington posed for him later that year.

Gilbert Stuart painted Washington in a series of iconic portraits, each of them leading to a demand for copies and keeping him busy and highly paid for years.

Gilbert Stuart moved to Devonshire Street in Boston in 1805, continuing in both critical acclaim and financial troubles.

Gilbert Stuart exhibited works locally at Doggett's Repository and Julien Hall.

Gilbert Stuart sold many of his paintings and her replicas of them from her studios in Boston and Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1824, Gilbert Stuart suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed, but he continued to paint for two years until his death in Boston on July 9,1828, at 72.

Gilbert Stuart was buried in the Central Burial Ground at Boston Common.

Gilbert Stuart left his family deeply in debt, and his wife and daughters were unable to purchase a grave site.

Gilbert Stuart was, therefore, buried in an unmarked grave which was purchased cheaply from Benjamin Howland, a local carpenter.

Gilbert Stuart's family recovered from their financial troubles 10 years later, and they planned to move his body to a family cemetery in Newport.

Gilbert Stuart was praised for the vitality and naturalness of his portraits, and his subjects found his company agreeable.

Gilbert Stuart was known for working without the aid of sketches, beginning directly upon the canvas.