Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-08-09
[From the Boston Daily Advertiser


[From the Boston Daily Advertiser1
THE LATE MR.. STUART.
During the last week the remains of Gilbert
Stuart, Esq. were consigned to the tomb. He was
born In Newport in the state Of Rhode Island IN
the year 1856. Soon after coming Of age he went
to England, where he became the pupil Of Mr.
west, the late distinguished President ofthe Roy
al Academy. Stuart there rose to eminence:
nor was 1t slight distinction that his claims were
acknowledged even during the life of Sir Joshua
Reynolds. His high.reputaton as portrait pain.
ter, as we'll III Ireland as in England, having thus
introduced him to q large acquaintance among
the higher classes Of society, both of fortune and
lame attended his progress; iusomuch that, had
he chosen to remain in England, they would
doubtless have rewarded him with their highest
gifts. But, admired and patronized he YVES,
ne chose to return to his native country. He was
impeiied to this sep, as he often declared, by
desire to give to Americans a faithful portrait of
Washington, and thus in measure to asso-
cjate with the name of the Father of his Coun-
try. And well is his ambition justified in the sub
limo head he has left nobler personi6caton
OF wisdom and goodness, reposing in the majesty
oil serene conscience, Is not to be found
vas. He returned to America in.the year 1894
and resided chiefly in Philadelphia and Washing
ton, in the practice of his profession, till about the
year 1901. when he removed to Boston, where he
remained to the time of his death. During the
last ten years Of his life he had to struggle with
many infrmties yet such was the vigour Of his
mind, that 1T seemed to triumph over the decays
OF nature, andto give to some of his last produc-
tons all the truth and splcndour-,fhis prime.
Gilbert Stuart not only Of the first
Painters Of his time, but must J.. &c been admitted
10y all who had an opportunity OF knowing him,
to have been, even out OF his art, extraordine-
ry man one who would have found distinction
easy in any other profession walk Of life. His
mind was Of strong and original cast his per-
ri fhaV nd ~
power Of illustration he mas rarely been equalled
On almost every subject, more especially on such
as were connected with his art his conversation
was marked by wisdom and knowledge while the
uncommon precision and elegance OF his language
seemed ever to receive additional grace fiom his
manner, which was that of bred gentleman
The variations and anecdotes with which his
knowledge Of men and of the world had stored his
memory, and which he often gave with greatbeau-
ty and dramatic effect, were not unlrsquently en-
ployed by Mr. Stuart in way, and with an ad-
dress, peculiar to himself. From this store it was
his custom to draw largely while occupied with
his subsequently, for their amusement; but
his object rather, by thus banishing all res
traint, to call forth if possible some involuntary
traits Of the natural character. But these Gimp
ses OF character mixed as they are in all men with
30 much that belongs to their age and associates,
would have been of little to an ordinary OBJ
server; for the faculty of distinguishing between
the accidental and the permanent, in other words,
between the conventional expression which arises
from manners, and that more subtle indication
of the individual MUD, is indeed no common one:
and by no one with whom are acquainted was
this faculty possessed in so remarkable degree
1t was this which enabled him to animate his can
wass-not with the appearance of mere general
2ne-but with that peculiar distinctive life which
separates the humblest individual from his kind.
He seemed to dive into the thoughts of men-for
they were made to rise, and to speak on the
face Were other evidences wanting, this talent
alone were sufficient to establish his claims as
man Of genius; since it is the privilege of genius
alone to measure at once the highest and the low
est. In his happier efforts one ever surpassed
him in eulbodying (if may SO speak) these
transient apparitions Of the soul OF this not the
least admirable instance is his Portrait (painted
within the last four years) Of the late President
Adams whose then bodily tenement seemed
thor to present the.imagc fsome diIapidated cas-
tic than that of the hsbnation Of the " unbroken
Snipd - but not such is the picture called forth
as from It's crumblIng recesses, the living tenant
is there--stl ennobling the ruin, and upholding
IL, as it were, by the strength of his own life In
this venerable ruin will the unbending Patriot
and the gifted Artist speak to posterty Of the
first glorious century Of our Republic.
ia word, Gilbert Stuart was, in its widest
sense, philosopher in his Art he thoroughly
understood its principles his works bear wit
ness-whether as to the harmony Of coours, or
OF lines or OF light and shadow Showing that OK
qusite sense Of q ochoIe, which only man of &C.
nious can realize and cnbody.
We cannot close this brief notice without a pa,.
sing record Of his generous bearing towards his
professional brethren. lie never suffered the
manliness Of his nature to Garken with the least
Shadow Of jealousy; but where praise was due, he