Gilbert Stuart: Philadelphia 1828

Friday, October 16, 2009

Philadelphia 1828

Samuel was 65.
Twin sister Phebe Meeker Cochran/Brookfield is already deceased (1814), the portrait of Samuel Meeker is now in the hands of her daughter Mary Brookfield ~click here for family tree~ And therefore back in New Jersey, most likely in the Westfield area.

July 9, 1828 -- Gibby's death in Boston.

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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

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
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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
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The Life and Works of Gilbert Stuart, by George Mason, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1894

Gilbert Stuart

Friday, October 16, 2009

Philadelphia 1828

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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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