The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-02-28
GILBERT STUART AND BENJAMIN WEST.

STUART, i'll moment of desperation,
summoned his courage and called on
West, without Introduction, Mr.. Whar-
ton, of Philadelphia, who was in LOu-
don at that time, happened to be at Mr..
Wesps when Stuart called. He has
often spoke Of this fact with great salts
faction among his friends, and relates
the circumstance as tolloWs:
He was dining with several Americans
at Mr.. VESTS, when a servant told Mr..
West that some one wished to see him.
He made answer, 81 am engaged; -
but, alter pause, he added, "Who is
heW The servant said, II do not know
sir; but he says he is from America"
Whereup0n Mr.. Wharton said, II Will
go and see who it is." lie went out anu
saw handsome youth in fashionable
green coat. He talked with him some
time, and, finding that he was tie
nephew Of Joseph Anthony, of Phila-
delphia, who happened to be a
friend of Mr.. WhartoRs, he an
swered for him at once, aud returning
TO Mr.. West told him that he was satis-
fed he was oil respectable connections,
and Mir. West came out and received
him most cordially. Stuart told him Of
his long desire to see him, ana of his
great wish to approve himself in the
arts-to all OF which West listened with
kindness and attention. He then re-
quested STUART to bring to him some
tning that he had painted, which Stuart
did; in few days from that time he
commenced his studies with West, and
finally became domesticated in his faml-
ly in the summer Of l777.
Stuart was then twenty-five years of
age. My father used to relate the cir
cumstance OF his going with some choice
colors to Sir Joshua, as present from
Mr.. West. Reynolds took him into his
painting-room TO show him his picture
of Mrs. Siddens, as the Tragic Muse,
seeing him SO delighted, invited him to
come and see 1T when it was finished,
which my father was only too happy to
do. Going into ReynolIs' room, be
found HIM full of anxiety, and busily
giving the finishing touches, his hair or
his wig) very much disheveied, his
stockings rather loose, and his general
appearance disordefed.
The instanT my father looked at the pic.
ture, he caught his breath with feeling
OF disappointment. Sir Joshua perceived
this, and asked him If he did not think
be had improved it. Stuart answered,
"It could not have been improved" and
asked, s'Why did not you take another
canVasW SIR Joshua replied, "Thaps
true" My father Immediately real
lied what very great liberty he
mad taken, aud was exceedingly
abashed, but the good Sir Joshua
bore the criticism very amiably, posi-
bly, thinking that the opinion OF so
young man was not any great matter.
Stuart was at this time a pale-looking
man, about twenty-five years old; Of 1
sad expression ana with dark brown
hair, which curled slightly about his
neck. II was often said tnat he looked
like Charles /, When Mr.. West was
painting for George Ill a picture Of
Charles arrayed in Ihe robes of the Or
der Of the Garter, to be placed in Wind
sor Castle, he sent lor Stuart to put the
robes on him as a mo4el. He was 80
struck with the resemblance that he
called his students and other persous 10
see this extraordinary likeness.n-
LScribner's Monthly.