George Washington, 1795
Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755–1828)
Oil on canvas; 30 1/4 x 25 1/4 in. (76.8 x 64.1 cm)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Rogers Fund, 1907 (07.160)

Presidential Portrait

Let's look at this painting of the first president of the United States of America.

Where do you see light reflected on the President?

Where did I repeat the color pink?

If you were to paint a portrait of Washington, how would it be different from mine?

(Use the Zoom and Enlarge buttons to get a closer look.)

This was one of the first portraits I painted of President George Washington. He was sixty-three years old and I was forty. The president was a very popular subject in art. I ended up making many more paintings of him. There were several other talented artists who painted Washington, but most people think my portraits are the most accurate.

I originally painted the president in a reddish-brown jacket, but later I painted over it to show him in the black velvet suit he wore for public appearances. His hair was powdered, pulled back, and tied with a black silk sawtooth ribbon. I highlighted his forehead and prominent nose, and portrayed his straight posture and a serious expression. I wanted him to look intelligent, important, and wise.

Fun fact

A similar portrait I painted of President Washington was used as the model for the image on the United States dollar bill.

Did you know?

Another portrait I painted of President Washington was rescued by First Lady Dolley Madison before the British burned the White House in 1814. This is a portrait I painted of her that hangs in the White House, Washington, D.C.

Above: Dolley Payne Todd Madison, 1804; Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755–1828) Oil on canvas; 29 3/16 x 24 1/8 in. (74.1 x 61.3 cm); The White House, Washington