The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-17
Painting by Stewart Purchased
by Nj. Walters for S25OO.
ORIGINALLY SOLD FOR slOo
Many Paintings Of the Father Of His Cou,.
try lntHlsfsnca, and 0xnars Can Nov
Estimate Their Value

Baltimore. Sept NV. T. Walters. the
well-knowp patron OF the arts. has Just
made another purchase in New York that
develops singular story. He bought one
of stuart's portraits OF George Washing
ton, for which he paid $500.
The original owner OF the oil paIntInp
bought It early in the 10Th century. of
Stuart himself. for 500. 1t was held by
his estate. and nothing especial was
thought OF its value until Mr.. Walters
made an offer. en- a sale was readily
effected.
There are many Stuart portraits OF
Washington, and their owners now have
an opportunity to estimate their worth
I'm money.
stuarts history was one OF struggles
Tor dollars. He was poor for many years.
and after he had attained fame his az
fairs were often In such condition that he
was compelled to resort to some rather
lhartistic practices to raise funds to tide
him over a crisis
be was born In Narragansett. r. l., I'm
l1oo, and early in his boyhood developed
a taste for drawing portraits. Examples
or mis- youthful work are still I'm existence
IN Newport. Stuart became a student
under Cosmo Alexander a Scotchman.
who took him to Scotland with him. There
Alexander died, leaving Stuart under the
charge of Sir George Chambers This
master of art soon died, leaving Stuart to
his own resources, and he determined to
return TO America. This he ACCOMPLISHED
with considerable hardship.
He opened studio In Newport but
soon returned TO England, where he SUI
fered much privation, but was finally
taken up by Benjamin West, the Ameri-
can artist who was OF great assistance
TO him. Stuart opened studio In London
ana soon became the favorite Of of fash
lonabie people. He also had much success
In Dublin, but returned to America In
1892
In 1875 came his opportunity to paint q
portrait OF Washington, but Stuart was
not satisfied with the result and Is saio
to have destroyed the picture. II is a,so
asserted that Stuart did not do this. but
sold II with five copies OF II that he made.
lie made full length Of Washington for
the Marquis OF Lansdowne. and then a
head Of the Father OF His Country. known
as the Athenaeum portrait from the fact
mat his widow sold 1t to the Boston Athe-
naeum. with a companion portrait Of
Martha Washington. for $500
This third portrait shows only the head
and the bust. with much of the detail un-
ami is also known as "Stuart's
unfinished portrait OF Washington IL
Is such good likeness, and shows WASH
lngton's dignity OF mien so thoroughly.
that IL forms the basis of most portraits
Of the first president
1t is said that at any time Stuart felt
The need OF money he painted a replica
of this Athenaeum portrait and sold it
At the stated price OF $780, 1t is claimed
hat he made one hundred and seven OF
these pictures. and disposed OF them at
Ms price as soon as they were finished.
other artists have not hesitated to use
he head and face as n model.
Before he died Stuart offered the Athe-
laeum portrait to the state of Massa-
for $1,000. but could not effect
sale. Now. seventy-four years after his
ieath, copy is sold for $500 for which
he painter received 800.
Stuart painted nearly 800 pictures and
OF his work are owned by tho
Maryland Historical society. the PennsyI-
'ania Academy CT Fine Arts, the Lenox
library OF New York the New York His
orical society. the Boston Art Museum
nd Harvard university.