George Washington
begun 1795
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
30 1/4 x 25 1/4 in. (76.8 x 64.1 cm)
Classification
Painting
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1907
Accession Number
07.160
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold Gilbert Stuart's captivating portrait of *George Washington*, begun in 1795, a cornerstone of American art now housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing. This oil-on-canvas masterpiece, measuring 30¼ × 25¼ inches, captures the first U.S. President with remarkable immediacy, thanks to Stuart's mastery of the medium. Oil allowed the artist to layer rich, luminous colors and subtle textures, bringing Washington's dignified presence to life in a way that feels intimately human. Stuart, a leading portraitist of the early American republic, painted several versions of Washingt...
About the Artist
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) was born on December 3, 1755, in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. He received his first painting instruction from local portraitist Samuel King, then studied under Scottish artist Cosmo Alexander who brought him to Scotland in 1771. After Alexander died, Stuart returned to Newport before sailing to London in 1775, where he entered the studio of Benjamin West for approximately...