Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1856-03-01


/ We come now to a brilliant era in the hisjo-
ry of the fine arts in the United States, in the
return Of Gilbert Stuart 10 his native land from
a long sojourn in Europe, where his great fame
as portrait painter obtained for him the title
of the modern Nandyke. The distinguishing
excellence of Stuart, as a portrait painter, con-
sisted in his giving the expression Of character
10 his portraits. a novelty in portrait painting
in the United States more Than half century
ago. Siuari's object and ambition on returning
TO America were to paint the great man Of his
country. lie gave To this work all his genus,
all his skill, and the best feelings of his heart
The first portrait of Washington by Stuart
created great sensation on It's appearance in
Philadelphia. II was soon followed by the cell
ebrated full-lengih for the Marquis Of Laus-
downe. In this splendid picture Stuart has
failed in the figure of the Chief, unapproacha-
Bile as he was, in painting the head. The great
artist had never made the human figure his pc
cuiar study or practice. Hence, for Me corroo
figure Of Washington IRE must refer, in all
cases, 10 the icoris Of 1rDBuH 1t was our
good fortune TO see much of Gilbert Stuart in
his studios of Philadelphia and Washington
city, and to hear him say, 81 do no, pretend to
have painted Washington as the General Of the
armies of independence | knew him not as
such | have painted the first psesident Of the
United States" And again, upon his being
asked, "Whom did Washington most resem-
bio :" he replied, "No one but himself" Stu
ar, complained bitterly Of his painting for the
Marquis Of Iansdowne having been pirated By
Heath, the engraver to his Brilannic Majesty.
He showed us a copper-plaie prepared in Eng
land for the celebrated Sharpe, the first engrav-
er 10 Europe, who, although retired from the
BURN, had consented to execute a farewell en-
craving Of Siuari's Washington. The copper
plate was large, thick and heavy, aud polished
like a mirror; while Stuart, laying his hand
upon the plate, observed, with much feeling,
"rhe profits, my young friend, of this copper.
plate engraved by Sharpe were all the foriune
| expected to leave 10 my family" Heath
made a noble fortune from his engraving of the
work Of Stuart, which engraving is superb
specimen Of the art.
Washington was bad sitter. Il annoyed
him exceedingly 10 sit at all and, after every
sitting, he was wont 10 declare this must be the
last. Stuart, once finding the Chief very dull,
beihought himself to introduce the subject OF
horses. This reused up the sitter, and the ar
tist obtained the desired expression
The last original (prohle in erayons) was by
! Sharpless, l796, and is now at the Arlington
} House. So much was this performance admir-
ed for the exquisite likeness and uncommon
! truthfulness of expression that the Chief order
3 ed portraits by the same artist Of every member
Of his domestic family. including George W.
! ] Iafu feel -
: also a portrait by Rembrandt Peale. son of The
! soldier arlsl painted fruin siitings during the
) Presidency. Il eliched mach commentator
from Revolutionary worlhes, and adorns Ihe
I hall of the uniied States Senate.
. We have thus enumerated all the reliable
{ originals Of The Paier Palrie from l772 to
: 1876, with remarks upon each These, with
the statue by Houdon in 1855, constitute, in
E our humble opinion, all the rescmblances in
! paintings and sculpture Of the beloved Wash
{ ington that will descend veneraied and admired
1 to posterity. Gracci's bust Of the Chief is a
failure his bust Of Hamilton magnificent.
] OF the painting, said to be an original, by
J Weumuller and executed about 1905 we lite
S rally know nothing yet, in 1895, we were not
I absent from the Presidential mansion in Phila-
g delphia single day. Again, through whose
1 influence was the sitting obtained for picture
, said to be for a Swedish noblemani 1t is no
: torious that il was only by hard begging that
= Mrs Bingham obtained the srings for the Mar
C quis Of Lansdowne's picture. And, again We
knew little or nothing of Sweden in the olden
e days, while we had and still preserve most
: honored recollection Of Denmark in the memo
. ry Of gallant Dane, Colonel Febger, dis
: iinguished officer of our Revolutionary army.
G Aud, lastly, il The Werimuler was painted
! about 1895, where is the distinguishing feature
y in the physiognomy of the Chief at that period
y the projection Of the under lip
= In giving graphic description OF the stature
: and form of Washington, we give not only the
S result Of our personal observation and expert
S enee Of many years but information deriveC
n from the highest authority fayorile neph
ew.
= Major Lawrence Lewis asked his uncle wha
$ was his height in the prime of life He replied
# sin my best days, Lawrence, ] stood six feet
. and two inches in ordinary Shoes" We know
+ that he measured by a standard precisely sA
f feet when laid out in death. OF his weigh
e we are an evidence, having heard him say IL
! Crawford, Governor of Canada, 10 1899, an,
: weight in my best days, sir, never exceeded
e from two hundred aud ten to twenty" Hi
+ form was unique, unlike most athletic framei
n that expand at the shoulders and then gather il
: at the hips. The form of Washington deviat
II ed from the general rule, since it descende,
), from the shoulders TO the hips in perpend ieua
h lines, the breadth of tha trunk being nearly Al
: great at the one at the other. His limb
d were long, large, and sinewy; in his lowe
e limbs he was what is usually called straight
g limbed His joints, feet, and hands were large
g aud could a cast have been made from his righ
!, hand, so far did its dimensions exceed nature
!, model, that il would have been preserved il
museums for ages as the anatomical wonder 0
If the 18Th century. Lafayette remembered Ihi
= remarkable hand. when, during his triumph il
d America, he said to us in the porlico at Noun
/ Vernon, at was here in 1894, was first in
4 h.. IL, Z, a.,