Stuart, Gilbert

Gilbert (1755-1828), an American portrait painter. He was born at Narragansett, Rhode Island. At the age of thirteen he began painting portraits without instruction. In 1770 a friend took him to England, but dying, left Stuart to return to America in poverty. He managed to scrape together some money by painting portraits and went again to England where he remained during the Revolutionary war. None the less he retained his American patriotism. In 1792 he returned to America with the avowed purpose of linking his name with that of the Father of his Country by painting the portrait of Washington. He established his studio in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston successively. He painted portraits of the first five presidents, and of Edward Everett, John Jay, Jacob Astor, Judge Story, W. E. Channing, the Quincys, and Admiral Perry. While in England he portrayed George III, George IV, and other members of the royal family, as well as Mrs. Siddons, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Benjamin West. His most noted portrait, that of Washington, is owned by the Boston Athenaeum.