Gilbert Stuart

At age 14, Stuart became a protégé of Scottish artist Cosmo Alexander. He traveled to Scotland with his mentor, but after Alexander's sudden death, Stuart struggled to make a living and was forced to return to America.¹

Fleeing the Revolution, Stuart moved to London and studied under Benjamin West for six years. During this period, his style evolved from a hard-edged linear approach to a more sophisticated English portrait style.¹

The 1782 portrait 'The Skater' brought him instant fame. This full-length masterpiece dispelled rumors that he could only paint faces, and his popularity soon rivaled that of masters like Gainsborough and Reynolds.¹

Despite his success and high fees, Stuart was notoriously bad with money. He frequently moved between London, Dublin, and eventually back to America to escape mounting debts and the threat of debtors' prison.¹

In 1793, Stuart returned to the U.S. with a plan to paint George Washington and sell engraved reproductions to support his family. This ambition led to the creation of some of America's most iconic portraits.¹

The famous 'Athenaeum Portrait' of Washington is actually unfinished. Stuart intentionally kept the original incomplete to use as a model, producing over 50 copies which he sold for $100 each.¹

In a display of his eccentric nature, Stuart painted a new 1805 portrait of Thomas Jefferson directly over an earlier 1800 portrait for which the President had already paid.¹

The full-length 'Lansdowne Portrait' of Washington was famously rescued by First Lady Dolley Madison and Paul Jennings when the White House was burned during the War of 1812.¹

Despite being partially paralyzed by a stroke in 1824, Stuart continued to paint until his death. In Boston, he served as a mentor to younger artists and was revered as a titan of American art.¹

Stuart's portrait of Washington has been featured on the U.S. one-dollar bill for over a century. His unfinished painting became the definitive and most recognized image of the first American president.¹