New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-19
GILBERT STUART'S MONUMENT
EVIDENCE OF THE FINDING OF HIS TOMB
IN BOSTON COMMON.
TWO ASSOCIATIONS PREPARING TO ERECT SUIT
ARrE MEMORIAL. TO THE AMERICAN
PORTRAIT PAINTER.

ABLE MEMORIAL TO THE AMERICAN
PORTRAIT PAINTER.
The Identification on Saturday Of the remains O
Gilbert Stuart In tomb No g. in the oid Ceh'r.'
Rurying Ground on Boston Common has tent TO-
newed interest the work OF the FINE Arts redera-
ton of New-York and the National Gilbert stuart
Memorial Association in having fitting mark or
monument erected in memory OF the American por-
trait painter. The news from Boston regarding the
Identification was published in Sundays Tribune
The examination Of the tomb was superntended oy
Frank T. Robinson. secretary OF the stuart Assoc'a'
ton. and several interesting photographs were
taken Some OF the details Of the work, as described
by Mr. Robinson. of special Interest
In order to establish beyond question. II possible
,he fact that tomb No 81 contained the remains or
Gilbert Stuart the decaying collins were carefully
examined one by Their covers and SIDES III
most instances had almost mouldered away ana the
remnants of the plates taken out INTO the sun
light that their faint inscriptions might De de-
ciphered The closest scrutiny, however. failed to
reveal more than one TWO names. In lW2 the
tomb was first used, and up to ISIS. the date OF
Stuarts burial, six bodies had been placed 'here'
The tomb is arched. built Of brick and Is ABOUT ten
feet In height eight feet in length and seven IN
width There only three plates OF the fourteen
collins in the tomb in which the inscriptions could De
distinguished.
As the searchers failed 10 discover plate with the
inscription OF Stuart's upon II. their attention
was directed the careful examination or each
coffin. The task easy because every CONN ex-
posed view its contents. either from the SIDES or
By lifting the covers which were more or less de-
cayed and had to be handled gently. In most in
stances the remains had shrunk into compact
masses ut the bottom Of the collins the contour OF
the figure being marked by the position OF the bones
In all cases We're laid lensthwise, not one
body showing the hands laid on the breast.
The even. regular size OF the skulls incased In
,rlr,J h,,- han fha
largest skull was disclosed the searchers exclaimed
at once that the head was Stuarts Their reasons
the remarkable size OF the skull the compare
tve.y perfect condition OF the teeth, the squarese
powerful Jaws the projecting brows. the lack or
hair on the top OF the head the presence OF the
side locks Of hair. and the whiskeIs wnich came 20
the lower part OF the and there stopped There
was no sign Of hair the upper lip. nor anywhere
relations in the division Of the face OF the skull
correspond with those in the portrait OF stuart 1y
made by his own hand in 1920 The distance from
the OF the hair. still evident by the rev haiIs
remaining on the side OF the head TO the END OF the
whisker locks. which extend nearly TO the END ~
the the upper jaw; is exact with me ata~
that the remains OF Gilbert Stuart were placed IN
tomb No G Central Buryng Ground IN 1oy.a i-S
Gilbert stuart died in poverty The only properly
he eft was a few paintings which Jane stuart tne
last surviving daughter OF three. sold. except one
painting an unfinished head OF L wei-known Irish
barrister Jane Stuart lived in small mouse III
Newport. r. L. and at her death her estate was
given in trust TO the old family housekeeper After
The housekeepers death the estate was distributed
among the friends OF Miss Stuart. according to the
provisions OF her will The three daughters OF Gil
bert stuart. Jane. Anne and Emma and Stuarts
wife are buried in the Stuart lot in Newport Tho
spot Is marked with a monument
i Carroll Beckw,h chairman OF the Committee
on Painting OF the Fine Arts Federation. said
Yesterday that he had received interesting letter
from Secretary Robinson. of the Stuart Association.
Mr. Robinson wrote that a bronze tablet ordered py
Colonel Charles +, Hasbrook. of Boston was nearly
finished. The design Is artistic and simple Colonel
Hasbrook will have 1t placed over the tomb or
Gilbert Stuart In regard to the erection of costly
or even a dignitied sculptural memorial over
Stuarts tomb. Mr. Robinson wrote that 1t would be
impossible to place anything OF that character there.
as the space would not allow X without encroach-
ing on the public walk filing In over neighborng
tombs The tablet absolutely the only tnng
possible to erect in this place. and that would Dc
done In a few days. ,..
Alexander r Van Laer. trustee OF the stuart
Association said that the Identification or stuart
body had given additional interest TO the work OF
the committee and they were perfecting ther plane
I'm the Natlona, movement 10 honor the memory VI
Gilbert Stuart with renewed enthusiasm. me pr,
posel monument TO Stuart might De erscte1 VI,
Boston Common or in Newport MT. an l-aer
thought there was finer place Tor such H,h
ment than Boston Common. II II snouid % iou"~
practicable to erect the monument there