Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 145, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1915 — WASHINGTON PORTRAITS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON PORTRAITS

The last sitting given by Washington yras for Sharpless, who made a mathematically correct profile which furnishes the authority for the proportions of the subject’s features. Of all painters, none achieved more than Gilbert Stuart, who, it is generally agreed, has given to the world the best likeness of the man. Stuart's success was probably due to the fact that he kept his subject from selfconsciousness by Entertaining him. In the two originals of this artist, and in the twenty-six copies which he made, he left noble personification of wisdom and serenity to the American people in the person of the first president. In color and finish, as well as in lifelike resemblance of features, no Washington artist has approached him. At the time of the Stuart sitting Washington’s mouth appeared rather unnatural on account of two new seahorse ivory front teeth which substituted for the general’s own. failure of the first portrait, which was destroyed, was probably traceable to this fact. The Stuart picture of Washington standing with a sword in his left hand was made expressly for the Marquis of Lansdowne, who was so delighted with the canvas that he declared It was only his advanced years which prevented his crossing the ocean to

thank Washington for allowing this picture to be taken. Although several copies of this painting were made by Sturt, the painting in the White House, *9 long considered his, was not done by that master. It is the work of an obscure artist, who substituted his own copy for an original which the government purchased for |BOO. - T Another Interesting fact about this picture is that during the time when the British were In Washington in 1814 it stood out in inclement weather for several days. This was because the man to whom it was intrusted was afraid to keep it in his bouse for fear of being punished by Rngllsh invaders. ' As Stuart did not excel in representing Washington's figure, this picture ( does not meet all the requirements of a good painting. The hand is said to be too small, as Stuart used the wax model of his own hand in making the picture. Stuart’s famous Washington portrait, made for Mrs. Washington, was never entirely becauie the artist always managed to delay completing the background. Finally, Washington, after frequent sittings, became annoyed and told the artist that he would sit no more, but to send the picture home when it was finished.