Gilbert Stuart
American, 1755–1828
George Washington
1796–1803
George Washington’s image first became popular in America around 1775, the year he was named commander in chief of the Continental army. Formal yet direct, this portrait is among many variants that Stuart based on his famous, unfinished study of President Washington done from life in 1796. Stuart’s portraits quickly became the iconic representation of Washington as statesman and founding father of the new republic, guaranteeing the artist a long and lucrative career.
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 28 15/16 x 24 1/16 in. (73.5 x 61.1 cm) Frame: 38 1/8 x 36 x 2 1/8 in. (96.8 x 91.4 x 5.4 cm) |
| Object Number | 1955.16 |
| Acquisition | Acquired by Sterling Clark, 1911 |
| Status | On View |
Image Caption
Gilbert Stuart, George Washington, 1796–1803, Oil on canvas. Acquired by Sterling Clark, 1911. The Clark Art Institute, 1955.16.
Bibliography
Conrads, Margaret C. American Paintings and Sculpture at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1990.
Provenance
William Willing by 1845; to (Lewis Rogers, agent, New York, 1845); to R.L. Paterson, 1845; to Charles Paterson, by descent; to (Hermann Schaus?); to Mrs. Elizabeth S. Clark, c. 1905; to Stephen C. Clark, by descent, 1909; to Robert Sterling Clark by April 1911.
