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Gilbert Stuart (painter) American, 1755 - 1828 James Monroe, c. 1817 oil on wood overall: 64.8 x 55 cm (25 1/2 x 21 5/8 in.) Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund 1979.4.3 |
Monroe's likeness, a replica of one done from life in 1817, is the only picture in the Gibbs-Coolidge set with a pale background. Stuart very rarely used light settings for his portrayals of men. Since James Monroe was the last of the first five presidents, serving from 1817 to 1825, this glowing sky might symbolize the Republic's future.