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.