Stuart, Gilbert Charles (1755-1828)

US painter. He was one of the leading US portrait painters of his day. After working in London, where he assimilated the methods of 18th-century English portraiture, he returned to the USA and painted many distinguished figures, including George Washington (several versions).

He first studied at Newport, Rhode Island, but went to England 1755, becoming a pupil of the US painter Benjamin West. Stuart was successful in London, though he got into debt and had to move to Ireland. He worked in Dublin 1778-93, again with success.

He then returned to the USA and painted George Washington, three versions resulting in the Athenaeum portrait of which he made many replicas. His freshness of colour and the calm dignity of his heads make him outstanding. He painted many distinguished Americans besides Washington, and among his artist sitters were John Copley, Benjamin West, and Joshua Reynolds.