This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery. Please follow the links below for related online resources or visit our current exhibitions schedule.
The exhibition presents 91 exceptional works by Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), the most successful portraitist of early America demonstrating his tremendous natural talent and wit in the representation of likeness and character. Stuart is known for his portraits of some of the most famous men and women of his era in America. After mastering the techniques of late 18th-century English portraiture during extended stays in London and Dublin, Stuart returned in 1793 to America, where he spent the rest of his life. Residence in the major cities of the republic–New York, Philadelphia, Washington, and Boston–resulted in a body of work notable for its historical importance and its elegant, refined beauty. The National Gallery of Art's unequaled collection of 40 Stuart paintings is represented by eight works in the exhibition, including The Skater (Portrait of William Grant) (1782), George Washington (Vaughan Portrait) (1795), Catherine Brass Yates (Mrs. Richard Yates) (1793/1794), Abigail Smith Adams (Mrs. John Adams) (1800/1815), and John Adams (c. 1800/1815).
Sponsor: This exhibition is proudly sponsored by Target as part of its commitment to arts and education.
This exhibition and the acquisition of Gilbert Stuart's Lansdowne portrait have been made possible by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation as a gift to the nation.