Robert L. Stuart Seated
April 9, 1881
Classification
portraits
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1938-57-1049
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Robert L. Stuart Seated is a compelling portrait by Daniel Huntington, a leading American artist (1816–1906) renowned for his contributions to 19th-century portraiture history painting. Completed on April 9, 1881, this work captures Robert L. Stuart in a seated pose, embodying the formal elegance typical of Gilded Age commissions. Huntington, who served as president of the Academy of Design, excelled in rendering the dignity and character of prominent figures, reflecting the era's emphasis on individualism and social status. As a classic example of American portraiture, the painting highlig...