Gilbert Stuart's Iconic Portraits

WASHINGTON, D.C.

:When most of us think of Gilbert Stuart, we envision iconic portraits of George Washington and other leaders of the new republic. This greatest of early American portraitists certainly did create enduring likenesses of our first group of presidents, and other prominent figures of the day. As a wonderful exhibition at the National Gallery documents, however, Stuart's artistic legacy also includes splendid images of lesser-known figures in both America and England. For pure aesthetic enjoyment, the latter sometimes outshine his portraits of statesmen.

"Gilbert Stuart," which opened last fall at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and will be on view at the National Gallery through July 31, is the artist's first retrospective in four decades. With more than 90 works from all periods of Stuart's long career, the show documents his genius at capturing the appearance and character of his sitters through his choice of pose and expression.

Organized by the Met and the National Portrait Gallery, the exhibition is curated by Carrie Rebora Barratt, curator of American paintings and sculpture at the Met, and Ellen G. Miles, chair of the department of painting and sculpture at the Portrait Gallery. Since the latter is closed for renovations until next year, the exhibition is displayed at its nearby sister institution, the National Gallery. An outstanding catalog underscores the beauty of this show and why Stuart (1755-1828) was the most successful American portrait painter of his day.