Gilbert Stuart Project

Gilbert Stuart in Britain (1775-1787)

ATechnical Study of selected work from Saltram House, National Trust Property Devon.

This project began as a third year thesis by Sophie Brummitt at the Courtauld Institute of Art and has since been developed and edited both by Sophie Brummitt and by Maureen Cross (Painting Conservator and Lecturer at the Courtauld Institute of Art) into an article in which they hope to publish their findings.

 

 

The project was carried out in conjunction with the National Trust, who allowed the authors to study a number of Gilbert Stuart paintings from their collection at Saltram House in Devon.  Tate London also allowed several of their Gilbert Stuart portraits to be inspected and analysed for this project.

 

 

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The information gleaned from this study forms a detailed preliminary investigation in the work of Gilbert Stuart whilst in Britain; an artist who was little known during his time here (1775-1787)

but became America’s most famous federalist painter upon his return to his native country in 1793.  He went on to paint the portrait of George Washington which is now printed on the one-dollar bill.

Saltram House