Gilbert Stuart (1755 - 1828 )

Gilbert Stuart was born in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, on December 3, 1755, the youngest of three children of Gilbert Stuart, Sr. and Elizabeth Anthony. Stuart traveled to London for an apprenticeship with a very well known American artist named Benjamin West. Upon returning from London, Gilbert lived and maintained studios in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York. Stuart’s forte was painting portraits; he was well known for painting Presidents and the very prominent people of society. In fact, Stuart’s most famous portrait was of President George Washington. He also painted Presidents Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. The fame of Washington’s portrait was based in part on the fact that Stuart never actually finished the originals; he never the less finished many copies, which he sold to a variety of patrons.

Stuart’s paintings are much admired for their glowing colors and bravura brushwork. While Washington was his most famous painting Stuart’s first success was The Skater (Portrait of William Grant, 1782, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.) Four years after the exhibition of The Skater, Stuart married Charlotte Coates (May 10, 1786). Stuart continued to paint well into his last years but none of his later works were as famous as George Washington or The Skater. Gilbert Stuart passed away on July 9, 1828 at the age of 72. (JAB)

Aaron Burr (attributed to Stuart)

Aaron Burr (attributed to Stuart), c.1792-1794, oil on canvas, From The Collections of The New Jersey Historical Society, Newark.

Portrait of Mercy Shiverick Hatch, c.1810, oil on wood, The Collection of The Newark Museum. Purchase 1962 The Members' Fund.

Gilbert Stuart painted not only Presidents but also Vice-Presidents and other prominent people. The portrait of Aaron Burr attributed to Stuart is not very well known, but its sitter has a long and interesting historical connection to New Jersey. Aaron Burr, a Newark, New Jersey native, was born on February 6, 1756. Burr’s parents were the Reverend Aaron Burr and Esther Edwards Burr. Reverend Burr was the cofounder and second President of The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). Both of Burr’s parents died before he reached the age of three, giving Reverend Timothy Edwards (his uncle) guardianship. Burr entered Princeton University at the age of 13 in 1769, in an attempt to escape his uncle’s strict homelife. Burr studied theology at first and then changed it to law, graduating with honors from Princeton in 1772.

During the Revolutionary War he served alongside George Washington and fought in the Battle of Monmouth before falling ill in 1779. Once Burr regained his health he began to study law again, passing the New York Bar in 1782. Governor George Clinton appointed him Attorney General in 1789; he was seated in the Senate in 1791, eventually becoming Vice-President in 1800. After serving his Vice-presidency Burr ran for governor of New York (1804); during the campaign Burr challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel over slanderous remarks made by Hamilton. The dual occurred in Weehawken, New Jersey where Burr fatally shot Hamilton and then fled to Philadelphia. On February 20, 1807 Burr was arrested and on June 27th was indicted for treason; he was later acquitted because of lack of witnesses. Burr then moved to Europe and did not return to the United States until 1812, the year his daughter and grandson passed away. Burr died on September 14, 1836 in Staten Island. Not many people know that Stuart painted Burr before the Hamilton incident. (JAB)

Mercy Shiverick Hatch was one of the many prominent people Stuart painted. Born in 1773 in Falmouth, Massachusetts, Hatch was the daughter of Joshua and Susannah Hatch. Mercy Hatch (“Mattie”) and her mother settled in Boston where they ran a boarding house for a fairly distinguished clientele. After the death of Hatch’s mother in 1824, a friend convinced her to buy a share in his company. After her friend passed away, his son took over the company and helped Ms. Hatch tremendously. In gratitude she gave him a choice between Stuart’s painting of her or a miniature of her by Malbone. He chose Stuart’s painting of Hatch, and the portrait has been in his family ever since. (JAB)

References:

Richard McLanathan, Gilbert Stuart (New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1986).

Lawrence Park, Gilbert Stuart: An Illustrated Descriptive List of His Works (New York: William Edwin Rudge, New York).

Gilbert Stuart Museum web site (see link below).

U.S. History web site (see link below).

Gonewengland web site (see link below).

Grolier web site: www.grolier.com/presidents/ea/vp/vpburr.html

Web site: http://hal.ucr.edu/?cathy/artists/gs7.html