Jane Stuart

Jane Stuart (1812[a] – April 27, 1888[b]) was an American painter, best known for her miniature paintings and portraits,[2] particularly those made of George Washington.

The known names of the children include Charles Gilbert, Jarvis, Emma, Elizabeth, Anne, Carlisle, Agnes Blagrove, and Jane.

Charles had artistic and dramatic talent, Elizabeth was a published writer, and Carlisle was noted for his agreeable disposition and died in 1820, possibly from tuberculosis.

[8] Anne lived to 68 years of age, and Elizabeth married a man named Benjamin Stebbins.

[10] The children had aspects of a traditional childhood, playing musical instruments and telling stories, but also were subject to a life of emotional turmoil.

[6] Instead, Jane learned painting skills by watching him[11] and copying his style,[12] and through lessons by instructors or her brother Charles.

[16] Also in 1820, Jane Stuart painted a copy of her father's "Washington at Dorchester Heights," which resides in the Old Colony House in Newport, Rhode Island.

[2][11] The Boston Athenæum held a benefit exhibition of 250 his works in August 1828 in an effort to provide financial aid for the family.

[6] Her painting of Washington, patterned after one made by her father, exhibited her skill as an artist, capturing light and depicting facial features and expression.

[6] She and her father both worked on a portrait of Oliver Hazard Perry that is held at the Toledo Museum of Art.

The museum stated that "Gilbert Stuart was notorious for leaving paintings unfinished and completed only the head.

"[21] Her painting A Portrait of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry belonged to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island until 1980.

[25] She struggled financially, but kept up appearances during the Gilded Age of Newport by selling her father's or her paintings to by-passers.

[1] Noted as the first woman portraitist of Newport, she was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2011.

[4] An exhibit of her and her father's original works was held at the Gilbert Stuart Museum in Saunderstown, Rhode Island from June to October 2016.