Artwork
Dr. James Stuart
Dr. James Stuart is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a genre portrait, the piece focuses on the physical representation of the individual rather than allegorical narrative or complex symbolic iconography.
The work is a portrait depicting James Stuart, identified as the main subject of the painting created by Gilbert Stuart in 1815. As a genre portrait, the piece focuses on the physical representation of the individual rather than allegorical narrative or complex symbolic iconography. The artwork serves as a direct visual record of Stuart, capturing his likeness through the medium of oil paint.
Produced in the United States, the painting functions primarily as a commemorative image of the sitter, reflecting the artist's focus on character and presence typical of the era's portraiture. No additional symbolic elements or broader metaphorical meanings beyond the depiction of the named individual are indicated in the available records.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1815 by Gilbert Stuart, this portrait of Dr. James Stuart is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 83.0 cm in height and 65.7 cm in width. Created in the United States, the piece exemplifies the artist's late-career approach to portraiture within the genre.
While specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, surface condition, or underpainting techniques are not explicitly detailed in the available records, the material composition is confirmed as oil paint. The formal qualities are defined by its function as a likeness of the subject, James Stuart, adhering to standard portrait conventions of the period.
History & Provenance
Gilbert Stuart painted the portrait of Dr. James Stuart in 1815, employing oil on canvas; the work measures 83 × 65.7 cm and belongs to the portrait genre. The painting was created in the United States and depicts Dr. James Stuart, after whom it is named. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view, and is catalogued under the accession number 1927.394.1.
The piece is recorded as part of the museum’s holdings of American portraiture, reflecting Stuart’s early 19th‑century practice. Its provenance is limited to its acquisition by the museum, with no earlier ownership recorded in the available documentation.
The portrait of Dr. James Stuart, painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1815, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. The institution identifies the work with the accession number 1927.394.1. While the painting's creation date and physical dimensions are documented, the provided sources do not contain specific records regarding its exhibition history or loan activities.
Overview
Gilbert Stuart, a prominent American portrait painter from the Rhode Island Colony, completed this oil painting of Dr. James Stuart in 1815. The work exemplifies Stuart's skill in capturing the likenesses of notable individuals during his era. This portrait is held in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a significant example of early American portraiture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gilbert Stuart (né Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.
