Gilbert Stuart: sublime, awe-inspiring talent

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

sublime, awe-inspiring talent

Possibly I am biased, but I don't think so. I have seen much of the work of Gilbert Stuart. I believe this portrait of Samuel Meeker, merchant of Philadelphia, ranks among his best efforts. Often the painter arbitrarily did not finish a portrait for one reason or another- this is fully completed... & ...exemplary of his GENIUS.

4 comments:

sallymandy said...: How fascinating! I love that you're following this interest as far as you can take it. I would, too. My education was in history, and I have a great passion for my own family history, though I haven't made time to pursue it much. Someone about 100 years ago did a genealogy of one branch dating back to the time of William the Conqueror, and if I need a family history fix I have that book.

In any case, this painting is just brilliant and I must say -- on a superficial note, sorry--your ancestor was handsome!

Thanks for visiting my blog today.; March 17, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Maureen said...: It's a brilliant piece of art technically, but I agree, the subject is gorgeous.; March 18, 2009 at 7:57 AM
StimmeDesHerzens said...: This will come out later in this Blog, that Sam kept himself in shape by riding vigorously in the sport of FOX HUNTING. Ok, not politically correct in this day and age, but in those days a form of exercise and means of leisure.; March 18, 2009 at 10:10 AM
emikk said...: click on the close up and zero in on the eyes,....the detail is incredible, wow, what a painting! Beth, you are very lucky to have such a superb painting in your hold!; March 19, 2009 at 10:56 AM

The first post Dec 17, 2008

There is much to read and explore in this blog! Not only fascinating insights into Gilbert Stuart, but also information on many of his sitters (famed, famous, infamous, or non-celebrities although most were celebrities in those days!), his personality, and about my ancestor Samuel Meeker. The life and times of personalities in early America. Its a worthy expenditure of time... scroll back and enjoy.

This blog was started when I inherited a musty, old portrait of a guy (an ancestor) who looked like George Washington. This type of portrait is not usual (especially in California), but I liked it, said so, and I inherited it. There was a vague notion it was done by a famous portrait painter such as Peale. I set out to find out exactly who the sitter was, and the painter, and the blog was born.

For the first years I was on the wrong track as a family ancestry book named him Major Samuel Meeker (who turned out to be a cousin, in the military, one generation earlier). And along the way I realized, discovered, that my ancestor was done by .....no other than.... the master portrait painter himself....quirky, addicted, nutty, but superlatively talented, Gilbert Stuart.

was painted by Gilbert Stuart, master of making faces (portraiture). The year was 1803.

Samuel Meeker (1763-1831) was a man who seemed to be able to balance his life between the creation of wealth in the financially flourishing city Philadelphia, and the pursuit of happiness in the undisturbed quiet of nature at his country estate "Fountain Green" on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Commerce, vitalized by the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, was let loose in America. Win or lose, that was the risk, and Meeker rose to the challenge.
For a thorough overview of the story of Samuel Meeker, check out my article in the spring issue 2013 of the publication "Financial History." This is a publication connected to the History of Finance Museum at the Smithsonian.

This is a report on Samuel Meeker, the man in the portrait; who he is, the story of the portrait in my family, his ancestors and descendants (including myself and my daughter Lily), and last but not least Gilbert Stuart the artist, his sitters, and their stories. Gradually, with light being shed on these individuals at the turn of the century, life in Philadelphia begins to shine through...the good, the bad, the scintilating, &...the titillating!

For a closer view of a photo or graphic, click directly on it.
As I began to research the identity of the painter of this family portrait (confidently reported by family to be by Peale), I ...1) figured out it was done by the artist Gilbert Stuart and ...2) the character of the artist began to interest me as much as my relative. Thus this report also reflects my continuing fascination with ...Gilbert Stuart...In addition to reading posts, the 'comments' might also be of interest (just click on the word 'comments' at the bottom of the post), to read more relevant info/insights to the posts. Feel free to add your own comments as well! To those of you who make comments on older posts, just beware that I most likely will not see them, but other viewers will.

Elizabeth

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"He left us the features of those who have achieved immortality for themselves, and made known others who would but for his art have slept in their merited obscurity." from William Dunlap "History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States"

E'in me, by no enlivening grace array'd
Me, born to linger in Affliction's shade,
Hast thou, kind artist, with attraction drest
With all that Nature in my Soul express'ed.

A Poem of Praise from sitter Sarah Wentworth Morton (the Boston writer known as the American Sappho) to GS

Lawrence Park 1873-1924

Often in this report you will see the words, "From Lawrence Park" in the description of a Stuart painting.
Lawrence Park accumulated the most exhaustive catalogue raisonné of the works of Gilbert Stuart, compiled in four large volumes. The first two volumes provide descriptives of the works, the second two volumes depict the correlating images. As his interest in family portraits became an all-absorbing passion, he began to collect data on all early American portrait painters, cataloguing and describing the pictures. For his collection of Gilbert Stuart works, he also depended on the willingness of the many owners of Stuart portraits to co-operate. To his letters of inquiry, replies from all parts of this country and from abraod came to the town where he was living. However Lawrence, whose deep interest and intense work for more than ten years made the publication of these volumes possible, died before their completion.
Not all portraits were found, not all named. A number of portraits are entitled "Portrait of a Gentleman", or, "Portrait of a Lady." It seems the higher the sitter was on the list of celebrity (ie a president, five sat for him!), the more one can rest assured the portrait is listed by Park. Or, if a portrait was bought and sold on the market, or shown in exhibition, its chances were increased of 'being found.' The portrait of Samuel Meeker is of a merchant, not a celebrated politician, the portrait remained quietly in the hands of the family; by this time had already been transplanted to California. It was not found by Lawrence Park.
The volumes were published in 1926, and are dedicated to all those who helped him in his work.

Sources often used

Gilbert Stuart, by Carrie Rebora Barratt, Ellen Miles; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2004
~
History of the Rise and Progress of The Arts of Design in the United States, Vol. I by William Dunlap; Dover Publications, New York, N.Y. 1969 (the original from 1834.)
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The Genius of Gilbert Stuart, by Dorinda Evans, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1999
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Gilbert Stuart, An Illustrated Descriptive List of his Works in 4 Volumes, by Lawrence Park, Printing House of William Edwin Rudge, New York, 1926
~
The Life and Works of Gilbert Stuart, by George Mason, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1894

Above image; "Goethe auf dem Eise" illustration by W. von Kaulbach
~Picturing Goethe engaging in his beloved sport of ice-skating in Frankfurt in the winter of 1773/74. His mother Aja is in the background in brown coat with muff.

...of nobel mien, but NOT of nobility.
Is this why Goethe could not ever consider marriage to Maximiliane von La Roche (in the foreground, leg crossed over knee.) Maximiliane's mother was noted author Sophie von La Roche of "Geschichte des Frauleins von Sternheim", 1771: quoted below

"...Das Vergnügen des Gedankens; du arbeitest für die Ruhetage des Besten der Menschen; hier wirst du ihn sehen, und in seiner Gesellschaft die glückichen Zeiten deiner Jugend erneuern; sein Rat, sein Beispiel, wird zu der Zufriedenheit deiner Seele und dem Besten deiner Angehörigen beitragen --Dieser Gedanken haben mich belohnt."

Gilbert Stuart

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

sublime, awe-inspiring talent

4 comments:

Mastery in the Art of Portraiture

The first post Dec 17, 2008

MY ANCESTOR, Samuel Meeker merchant of Philadelphia, descendant of William Meeker associate of NJ

was painted by Gilbert Stuart, master of making faces (portraiture). The year was 1803.

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