Artist To The Presidents

[Charlotte Blanchard]

Since it is February and National Presidents Day is Feb. 21, it has made me think about the man behind the presidents. It is hard to think of George Washington without visualizing the famous portrait of him painted by Gilbert Stuart. In fact, Stuart painted each of the first six presidents (John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams).


One of my childhood memories is stepping into any classroom at school and seeing a painting of George Washington, the father of our country, next to the American flag. You got the feeling the he was not only still watching over the country, but over you too.


The man behind the portrait was Gilbert Stuart from Rhode Island who lived from 1755- to 1828, and is recognized as America’s foremost portraitists. He is best known for the unfinished portrait of Washington known as the Athenaeum, of which its likeness is portrayed on the American $1 bill.

In 1795, Stuart at the age of 40, was granted permission to paint George Washington. Stuart discovered a technique for finding appropriate expressions and poses for the people in his paintings by engaging them in lively banter. Washington was a difficult sitter and Stuart's usual charm and repartee failed on him. Stuart finally found a spark in Washington by engaging him by chatting about horses, a favorite topic of the president who was an accomplished equestrian.

Consequently, Stuart found himself painting Washington with some urgency which produced a portrait of a vibrant and lively man, also placing Washington high up on the canvas conveys the feeling that Washington is towering over us. The fiery glow of a halo in the background brings the president to the foreground with a uncanny 3D effect.

Stuart made more than 100 likenesses of Washington and by the end of his career, he had painted over 1,000 American political and social figures. He was praised for the vitality and naturalness of his portraits, and his subjects found his company most agreeable.

In 1824, Stuart suffered a minor stroke, however he continued to paint for two more year until his death in Boston at the age of 72. He was buried in the Old South Burial Ground of the Boston Common. Sadly as is the case for so many artist while living, Stuart died penniless. In fact, he left his family deeply in debt therefore his wife and daughters were unable to purchase a grave site, and Stuart was buried in an unmarked grave. Years later when his family had recovered from their financial troubles they planned to move his body to the family cemetery in Newport Rhode Island. Sadly the family couldn’t remember the exact location of Stuart’s body so it was never moved.