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          Gilbert Stuart, 1755 – 1828

          Gilbert Stuart Paintings: The 100 Most Famous Works, Ranked

          Gilbert Stuart's most famous painting is George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (1796), in the National Portrait Gallery, London. With George Washington (8) (1820) and George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) (1796), it completes the three works everyone recognises. Our catalogue lists 386 works by Gilbert Stuart; the 100 below are the ones the world looks at most, each with its year, the museum that holds it and why it matters.

          Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

          Portrait of Gilbert Stuart
          Gilbert Stuart · 1755 – 1828
          Born · died
          1755 – 1828, North Kingstown
          Movement
          Neoclassicism
          Works in our catalogue
          386
          Most famous
          George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (1796)
          Most works at
          Harvard Art Museums

          The 10 most famous Gilbert Stuart paintings

          George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (1796) by Gilbert Stuart
          1

          George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait)

          1796 · Painting · National Portrait Gallery, London

          To gaze upon Gilbert Stuart's depiction of George Washington is not merely to observe a likeness; it is to encounter the very spirit of an era, the embodiment of nascent American ideals. This portrait, painted in 1796, transcends simple portraiture, becoming instead a monumental testament to leadership and enduring vision. Stuart captured the first President of the United States at a pivotal moment—a man whose quiet dignity belied the immense…

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          George Washington (8) (1820) by Gilbert Stuart
          2

          George Washington (8)

          1820 · Oil On Panel · National Gallery of Art, Washington

          In the hallowed halls of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, there resides a window into the very soul of early American identity. George Washington (8), an exquisite oil on panel painted by the master Gilbert Stuart in 1820, serves as more than just a likeness; it is a profound encounter with the weight of history. Through Stuart’s masterful hand, we are not merely looking at the…

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          George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) (1796) by Gilbert Stuart
          3

          George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait)

          1796 · Oil On Canvas

          The Majesty of a Republic: Encountering the Lansdowne Portrait To stand before Gilbert Stuart’s George Washington (The Lansdowne Portrait) is to encounter the very soul of early American identity. Painted in 1796, this masterpiece transcends mere portraiture, serving as a profound visual manifesto of a nascent nation. Stuart, a master of the Neoclassical style, does not merely capture a likeness; he constructs an icon. The composition presents Washington in a…

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          George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781 (1800) by Gilbert Stuart
          4

          George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781

          1800 · Oil On Canvas · Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

          A formal Neoclassical portrait captures George Washington in a three-quarter view bust composition. He faces the viewer's left, though his gaze remains directed forward. The palette relies on restrained, somber tones: deep blacks in the clothing and neutral dark browns in the background. This darkness provides a sharp contrast to the bright white of the powdered wig and the cravat. Directional lighting from the upper left creates subtle highlights on…

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          George Washington (1798) by Gilbert Stuart
          5

          George Washington

          1798 · Oil On Canvas · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

          To stand before this portrait is to encounter the quiet gravity of a man who carried the weight of a new nation upon his shoulders. The composition focuses on a bust-length view of George Washington, positioned slightly off-center as he faces toward the right, though his gaze remains fixed forward. There is a certain stoicism in his expression, a sense of authority that does not need to shout to be…

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          Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole (1757–1830), Bt (1786) by Gilbert Stuart
          6

          Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole (1757–1830), Bt

          1786 · Oil On Canvas · National Trust, Plymouth

          To stand before this portrait is to step directly into the refined drawing rooms and grand halls of late eighteenth-century England. Gilbert Stuart, the master chronicler of American and British elite life, has captured not merely a likeness, but an entire persona—that of Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole. The subject commands attention with a natural bearing, his posture radiating the quiet authority expected of a man of naval distinction and…

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          Thomas Robinson (1738–1786), 2nd Baron Grantham (1785) by Gilbert Stuart
          7

          Thomas Robinson (1738–1786), 2nd Baron Grantham

          1785 · Oil On Canvas · National Trust, Plymouth

          To stand before this portrait of Thomas Robinson, the 2nd Baron Grantham, is to step directly into the refined drawing rooms of late eighteenth-century England. Painted in 1785 by the masterful hand of Gilbert Stuart, the work transcends a mere likeness; it is a carefully constructed monument to status, intellect, and enduring masculine dignity. The subject gazes out with an unwavering directness that seems to challenge the viewer, inviting an…

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          Mrs. Aaron Lopez and Her Son Jushua (1773) by Gilbert Stuart
          8

          Mrs. Aaron Lopez and Her Son Jushua

          1773 · Oil On Canvas · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

          This captivating portrait, dating from 1773, offers an intimate window into the social graces and evolving portraiture tastes of late eighteenth-century America. Gilbert Stuart, a master chronicler of his time, has captured not merely two figures—Mrs. Aaron Lopez and her young son Jushua—but a moment suspended in time. The composition immediately draws the viewer into its warmth, presenting a scene steeped in quiet dignity. Notice the careful arrangement: the mother…

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          George Washington (1795) by Gilbert Stuart
          9

          George Washington

          1795 · Oil · Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

          A Vision of Command: The Portrait of George Washington George Washington stands before us not merely as a historical figure, but as an enduring symbol of dignity and resolute leadership. In this striking portrait, the first president of the United States is captured with a profound sense of presence that transcends the canvas. Clad in a formal suit featuring a crisp white collar and tie, his countenance is framed by…

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          George Washington (1796) by Gilbert Stuart
          10

          George Washington

          1796 · Oil On Canvas · Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamsburg

          To stand before a portrait of George Washington is not merely to observe a likeness; it is to encounter the very embodiment of a nascent nation's spirit. Gilbert Stuart, the master chronicler of America's founding fathers, captured more than just the features of the first President; he immortalized an epoch. This painting, dating from 1796, presents Washington with a dignity that transcends the passing years. The subject is rendered in…

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          Gilbert Stuart, paintings 11 to 100

          Henry Rice (1815) by Gilbert Stuart
          #11

          Henry Rice

          1815 · Metropolitan Museum of Art

          In the quiet, commanding presence of Gilbert Stuart’s 1815 portrait, Henry Rice, one finds much more than a mere historical record; it is an intimate window into the…

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          George Washington (1795) by Gilbert Stuart
          #14

          George Washington

          1795 · Metropolitan Museum of Art

          Gilbert Stuart's “George Washington” is more than just a portrait; it’s an embodiment of the nascent American republic, a carefully constructed symbol of leadership and the promise of…

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          George Washington (1796) by Gilbert Stuart
          #16

          George Washington

          1796 · Museum of Fine Arts

          Gilbert Stuart's "George Washington," painted in 1796, isn’t merely a likeness; it’s an embodiment of nascent American leadership and the very spirit of a nation forging its identity.…

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          Josiah Quincy (1824) by Gilbert Stuart
          #18

          Josiah Quincy

          1824 · Museum of Fine Arts

          Gilbert Stuart's portrait of Josiah Quincy, completed in 1824, is more than just a likeness; it’s a carefully constructed embodiment of the burgeoning intellectual and political landscape of…

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          John Adams (1800) by Gilbert Stuart
          #21

          John Adams

          1800 · National Gallery of Art

          Gilbert Stuart’s 1800 portrait of John Adams, currently residing in the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., is more than just a likeness; it's a carefully constructed…

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          George Washington (1796) by Gilbert Stuart
          #22

          George Washington

          1796 · The Frick Collection

          Gilbert Stuart's "George Washington," painted in 1796, isn’t merely a portrait; it’s a carefully constructed embodiment of the nascent American republic. This remarkable work, now housed within the…

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          Fisher Ames (1807) by Gilbert Stuart
          #33

          Fisher Ames

          1807 · National Portrait Gallery

          Fisher Ames sits in a three-quarter view, his gaze meeting the viewer with a steady, somber composure. The portrait, executed around 1807, captures the subject in a moment…

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          John Jay (1784) by Gilbert Stuart
          #41

          John Jay

          1784 · National Portrait Gallery

          In this oil on canvas, Gilbert Stuart captures the likeness of John Jay, a prominent American statesman. The subject sits with a quiet, heavy presence, his form anchored…

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          Colonel Isaac Barre (1785) by Gilbert Stuart
          #43

          Colonel Isaac Barre

          1785 · Yale Center for British Art

          The gaze of Colonel Isaac Barre meets the viewer through this portrait by Gilbert Stuart, captured around 1785. He appears not merely as a figure of history, but…

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          Margaret Spear Smith (1800) by Gilbert Stuart
          #45

          Margaret Spear Smith

          1800 · National Portrait Gallery

          The portrait of Margaret Spear Smith is an oil on canvas work executed around 1800. The subject is positioned in a three-quarter view, shown from the waist up…

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          Mrs. John Ashley (1798) by Gilbert Stuart
          #48

          Mrs. John Ashley

          1798 · Dallas Museum of Art

          Mrs. John Ashley is a portrait painted by the artist Gilbert Stuart. This work, executed on canvas, depicts a woman who was the wife of a wealthy merchant.…

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          Samuel Smith (1800) by Gilbert Stuart
          #52

          Samuel Smith

          1800 · National Portrait Gallery

          This oil on canvas portrait, titled Samuel Smith, was executed by the artist Gilbert Stuart around 1800. The subject of the painting is Samuel Smith, a man who…

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          Henry Nicols (1810) by Gilbert Stuart
          #60

          Henry Nicols

          1810 · Carnegie Museum of Art

          This portrait depicts Henry Nicols, a single male figure presented in a bust-length composition. Created by the American artist Gilbert Stuart, the work is dated about 1810. The…

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          Washington Allston (1818) by Gilbert Stuart
          #61

          Washington Allston

          1818 · Metropolitan Museum of Art

          In this 1819 portrait, Gilbert Stuart turns his attention to Washington Allston. The sitter was a celebrated poet and philosopher, a man whose intellectual pursuits were as significant…

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          John Philip Kemble (1785) by Gilbert Stuart
          #74

          John Philip Kemble

          1785 · National Portrait Gallery

          In this 1785 portrait, Gilbert Stuart captures John Philip Kemble, a prominent British actor of the late eighteenth century. The subject is presented with a quiet, composed dignity…

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          James Greenleaf (1795) by Gilbert Stuart
          #81

          James Greenleaf

          1795 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

          In this portrait of James Greenleaf, Gilbert Stuart captures a man of significant standing from the late 18th century. Painted about 1795, the work presents Greenleaf as an…

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          Colonel James Swan (1795) by Gilbert Stuart
          #82

          Colonel James Swan

          1795 · Museum of Fine Arts

          The portrait of Colonel James Swan is a formal oil-on-canvas work by the American artist Gilbert Stuart. Painted in 1795, the image captures a single male figure of…

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          John Foster (1790) by Gilbert Stuart
          #88

          John Foster

          1790

          This formal portrait of John Foster was executed by the American artist Gilbert Stuart. Painted around 1790, the work captures a man of significant standing during a transformative…

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          Joseph Brant (1786) by Gilbert Stuart
          #89

          Joseph Brant

          1786

          Joseph Brant by Gilbert Stuart presents a formal portrait of the Mohawk leader, Thayendanegea. Painted about 1786, the work captures the subject in a bust-length view, facing slightly…

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          Henry Cruger (1793) by Gilbert Stuart
          #90

          Henry Cruger

          1793

          In this portrait, Henry Cruger sits before us, captured by the hand of the American artist Gilbert Stuart. The subject is a man of significant influence, an American-British…

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          Dr. William Aspinwall (1815) by Gilbert Stuart
          #92

          Dr. William Aspinwall

          1815 · The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

          Gilbert Stuart painted Dr. William Aspinwall around 1815. The subject, William Aspinwall, is presented in a formal bust-length composition. He is identified by his professional occupation as a…

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          Samuel Griffin (1800) by Gilbert Stuart
          #94

          Samuel Griffin

          1800 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

          In this oil portrait, the American artist Gilbert Stuart captures Samuel Griffin, a man of significant influence in Virginia. Painted about 1800, the work presents a formal study…

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          Mrs. William Jackson (1798) by Gilbert Stuart
          #95

          Mrs. William Jackson

          1798 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

          The portrait titled Mrs. William Jackson is a work by the American painter Gilbert Stuart. Created in 1798, this oil on canvas captures a single female figure. She…

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          Mrs. Samuel Blodget (1798) by Gilbert Stuart
          #96

          Mrs. Samuel Blodget

          1798 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

          Created in 1798, Mrs. Samuel Blodget is a refined and elegant Neoclassical portrait of a young woman. This oval-shaped bust-length portrait, set within an ornate gold frame, captures…

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          Abigail Willing (1803) by Gilbert Stuart
          #99

          Abigail Willing

          1803 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

          The gaze of Abigail Willing Peters meets the viewer from within the frame of this portrait titled Abigail Willing. Painted by the American artist Gilbert Stuart, the work…

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          Gilbert Stuart's paintings by period

          Early Period

          1780 – 1785 · 6 works in this list
          Sir John Dick (1783), Gilbert Stuart #29 Sir John Dick 1783 · National Gallery of Art Portrait of Henry Lambert (1738-1813) (1780), Gilbert Stuart #40 Portrait of Henry Lambert (1738-1813) 1780 · Minneapolis Institute of Art John Parker, Viscount Boringdon, 1st Earl of Morley (1772-1840), as a boy (1785), Gilbert Stuart #47 John Parker, Viscount Boringdon, 1st Earl of Morley (1772-1840), as a boy 1785 · Saltram House Captain Sir John Jervis, 1735-1823 (1782), Gilbert Stuart #63 Captain Sir John Jervis, 1735-1823 1782 · National Maritime Museum Dr. John Fothergill (1781), Gilbert Stuart #66 Dr. John Fothergill 1781 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

          Mature Period

          1773 – 1827 · 91 works in this list
          George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (1796), Gilbert Stuart #1 George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) 1796 · National Portrait Gallery George Washington (8) (1820), Gilbert Stuart #2 George Washington (8) 1820 · National Gallery of Art George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) (1796), Gilbert Stuart #3 George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) 1796 George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781 (1800), Gilbert Stuart #4 George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781 1800 · Yale University Art Gallery George Washington (1798), Gilbert Stuart #5 George Washington 1798 · Metropolitan Museum of Art

          Late Period

          1817 – 1826 · 3 works in this list
          Col. Israel Thorndike (1755-1832) (1817), Gilbert Stuart #35 Col. Israel Thorndike (1755-1832) 1817 · Harvard Art Museums John Adams (1826), Gilbert Stuart #56 John Adams 1826 · Smithsonian American Art Museum Portrait of Rufus King (1819), Gilbert Stuart #62 Portrait of Rufus King 1819 · National Portrait Gallery

          The subjects Gilbert Stuart painted most

          The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.

          Man 57 works

          George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) (1796), Gilbert Stuart #3 George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) 1796 George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781 (1800), Gilbert Stuart #4 George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781 1800 · Yale University Art Gallery George Washington (1798), Gilbert Stuart #5 George Washington 1798 · Metropolitan Museum of Art William Porter Jr. (1788-1818) (1807), Gilbert Stuart #23 William Porter Jr. (1788-1818) 1807 · Harvard Art Museums

          Portrait 34 works

          George Washington (8) (1820), Gilbert Stuart #2 George Washington (8) 1820 · National Gallery of Art George Washington (1795), Gilbert Stuart #14 George Washington 1795 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Louis-Marie, Vicomte de Noailles (1798), Gilbert Stuart #15 Louis-Marie, Vicomte de Noailles 1798 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester (1756-1826) (1785), Gilbert Stuart #28 Thomas Pelham, 2nd Earl of Chichester (1756-1826) 1785 · Saltram House

          White cravat 31 works

          Portrait of Judge Daniel Cony of Maine (1752-1842) (1815), Gilbert Stuart #24 Portrait of Judge Daniel Cony of Maine (1752-1842) 1815 · Minneapolis Institute of Art Fisher Ames (1758-1808) (1810), Gilbert Stuart #25 Fisher Ames (1758-1808) 1810 · Harvard Art Museums The Hon. Frederick Robinson (1746-1792) (1785), Gilbert Stuart #27 The Hon. Frederick Robinson (1746-1792) 1785 · Saltram House Joseph Coolidge (1747-1820) (1813), Gilbert Stuart #30 Joseph Coolidge (1747-1820) 1813 · Harvard Art Museums

          Dark background 27 works

          Fisher Ames (1807), Gilbert Stuart #33 Fisher Ames 1807 · National Portrait Gallery Susannah Powell Mason (Mrs. Jonathan Mason) (1803), Gilbert Stuart #34 Susannah Powell Mason (Mrs. Jonathan Mason) 1803 · Harvard Art Museums Col. Israel Thorndike (1755-1832) (1817), Gilbert Stuart #35 Col. Israel Thorndike (1755-1832) 1817 · Harvard Art Museums Portrait of Alexander Townsend (1784-1835) (1809), Gilbert Stuart #37 Portrait of Alexander Townsend (1784-1835) 1809 · Minneapolis Institute of Art

          Where to see Gilbert Stuart's paintings

          The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

          Museum City Works by Gilbert Stuart Paintings from this list
          Harvard Art Museums, CambridgeHarvard Art Museums Cambridge 15 William Porter Jr. (1788-1818), Fisher Ames (1758-1808), Joseph Coolidge (1747-1820)
          Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, PhiladelphiaPennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Philadelphia 11 Portrait of "Philadelphia Hannah", Dr. John Fothergill, James Greenleaf
          Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 26 George Washington, George Washington, Henry Rice
          Museum of Fine Arts, BostonMuseum of Fine Arts Boston 47 George Washington, Josiah Quincy, John Park
          National Gallery of Art, WashingtonNational Gallery of Art Washington 32 George Washington (8), George Washington (The Vaughan Portrait), John Adams
          National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.National Portrait Gallery Washington, D.C. 7 Fisher Ames, John Jay, Margaret Spear Smith
          National Trust, PlymouthNational Trust Plymouth 6 Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole (1757–1830), Bt, Thomas Robinson (1738–1786), 2nd Baron Grantham, Admiral the Honourable Samuel Barrington (1729–1800)
          National Portrait Gallery, LondonNational Portrait Gallery London 10 George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait), Martha Dandridge Custis Washington, George Washington (Lansdowne Portrait)

          Gilbert Stuart's most famous painting of each decade

          1. 1770s
            Mrs. Aaron Lopez and Her Son Jushua (1773) by Gilbert Stuart
            Rank 8 / 100

            Mrs. Aaron Lopez and Her Son Jushua

            Age 15 – 24 · Detroit Institute of Arts

            This captivating portrait, dating from 1773, offers an intimate window into the social graces and evolving portraiture tastes of late eighteenth-century America. Gilbert Stuart, a master chronicler of…

          2. 1780s
            Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole (1757–1830), Bt (1786) by Gilbert Stuart
            #6 of 100

            Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole (1757–1830), Bt

            Age 25 – 34 · National Trust

            To stand before this portrait is to step directly into the refined drawing rooms and grand halls of late eighteenth-century England. Gilbert Stuart, the master chronicler of American…

          3. 1790s
            George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (1796) by Gilbert Stuart
            Rank 1 / 100

            George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait)

            Age 35 – 44 · National Portrait Gallery

            To gaze upon Gilbert Stuart's depiction of George Washington is not merely to observe a likeness; it is to encounter the very spirit of an era, the embodiment…

          4. 1800s
            George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781 (1800) by Gilbert Stuart
            #4 of 100

            George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781

            Age 45 – 54 · Yale University Art Gallery

            A formal Neoclassical portrait captures George Washington in a three-quarter view bust composition. He faces the viewer's left, though his gaze remains directed forward. The palette relies on…

          5. 1810s
            Henry Rice (1815) by Gilbert Stuart
            #11 of 100

            Henry Rice

            Age 55 – 64 · Metropolitan Museum of Art

            In the quiet, commanding presence of Gilbert Stuart’s 1815 portrait, Henry Rice, one finds much more than a mere historical record; it is an intimate window into the…

          6. 1820s
            George Washington (8) (1820) by Gilbert Stuart
            No. 2 of 100

            George Washington (8)

            Age 65 – 73 · National Gallery of Art

            In the hallowed halls of the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, there resides a window into the very soul of early American identity. George Washington…

          Questions about Gilbert Stuart's paintings

          What is Gilbert Stuart's most famous painting?Show the answer

          George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) (1796), National Portrait Gallery, London. Next come George Washington (8) (1820) and George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) (1796).

          How old was Gilbert Stuart when George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) was painted?Show the answer

          41 years old: George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait) dates from 1796 and Gilbert Stuart was born in 1755.

          What are the top 10 paintings by Gilbert Stuart?Show the answer

          George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait), George Washington (8), George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait), George Washington (1732-1799), LL.D. 1781, George Washington, Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole (1757–1830), Bt, Thomas Robinson (1738–1786), 2nd Baron Grantham, Mrs. Aaron Lopez and Her Son Jushua, George Washington and George Washington. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.

          How many paintings did Gilbert Stuart make?Show the answer

          Our catalogue lists 386 works by Gilbert Stuart, dated from 1773 to 1827.

          Where are Gilbert Stuart's most famous paintings?Show the answer

          Most of them are in Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge), Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (Philadelphia) and Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The table above lists the museums one by one.

          When did Gilbert Stuart paint the most famous works?Show the answer

          In 1790s: 33 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them George Washington (The Athenaeum Portrait).

          What are Gilbert Stuart's earliest and latest famous paintings?Show the answer

          The earliest on this page is Mrs. Aaron Lopez and Her Son Jushua (1773), the latest John Quincy Adams (1767-1848) (1827).

          What did Gilbert Stuart paint most often?Show the answer

          Man (57), Portrait (34) and White cravat (31), among the 100 works on this page.

          What medium did Gilbert Stuart use most?Show the answer

          Oil On Canvas: 79 of the 100 works on this page.

          Which art movement does Gilbert Stuart belong to?Show the answer

          Neoclassicism, as the paintings on this page show.

          Which Gilbert Stuart paintings can I see at the Harvard Art Museums?Show the answer

          William Porter Jr. (1788-1818), Fisher Ames (1758-1808) and Joseph Coolidge (1747-1820) are among the 10 works on this page held by the Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge.

          Can I buy a reproduction of a Gilbert Stuart painting?Show the answer

          Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

          About Gilbert Stuart

          Gilbert Stuart: A Life in Portraiture

          • Born: December 3, 1755, Saunderstown, Rhode Island
          • Died: July 9, 1828, Boston, Massachusetts
          • Nationality: American
          • Movement: Neoclassicism
          • Known for: Portraiture, particularly portraits of prominent figures in early American history.

          Early Life and Training

          • Gilbert Stuart was born into a family with Scottish roots; his father, also named Gilbert, was an inventor who established the first snuff mill in Rhode Island.
          • His artistic talent emerged at a young age, demonstrating skill even as a child.
          • At 14, he painted "Dr. Hunter's Spaniels," showcasing early promise.
          • He traveled to Scotland around 1771 to study under Cosmo Alexander, but returned after Alexander’s death in 1775.
          • Further training occurred in London with Benjamin West, a prominent American painter residing in England, from 1775 to 1780. This period was crucial for developing his artistic style and gaining recognition within the Royal Academy.

          Artistic Career and Major Works

          • Stuart's career faced challenges during the American Revolution, prompting him to relocate to England in 1775.
          • He achieved early success with "The Skater" (1782), a portrait that established his reputation.
          • His most famous work is the unfinished portrait of George Washington, known as the Athenaeum Portrait (begun in 1796). This image has become iconic, appearing on U.S. currency and postage stamps. Stuart produced numerous copies of this portrait for patrons across America and Europe.
          • He painted portraits of several other prominent figures including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and many members of the Federalist elite.
          • Stuart’s style was characterized by a Neoclassical approach, emphasizing realism and capturing the likeness and character of his subjects. He often employed a dramatic use of light and shadow to enhance the portraits' impact.

          Influences and Development

          • Cosmo Alexander provided early training in technique and composition.
          • Benjamin West’s influence was significant, shaping Stuart’s understanding of portraiture and artistic principles.
          • The Neoclassical movement, with its emphasis on classical forms and ideals, heavily influenced his style.
          • Stuart's own observations and interactions with his subjects contributed to the psychological depth and realism in his portraits. He aimed to capture not just a likeness but also the character and personality of those he painted.

          Historical Significance and Legacy

          • Gilbert Stuart is considered one of America’s foremost portraitists, playing a vital role in documenting the early years of the United States.
          • The Athenaeum Portrait of George Washington has become an enduring symbol of American identity and leadership.
          • His portraits provide valuable historical insights into the lives and appearances of prominent figures from the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
          • Stuart’s work is represented in major museums across the United States and Europe, ensuring his legacy continues to be appreciated by generations.
          • He established a distinct American style of portraiture that blended European techniques with uniquely American sensibilities.
          All 386 works by Gilbert Stuart → Gilbert Stuart painting reproductions, with prices →