Gilbert Charles Stuart, an American painter, born in Narragansett, R. I., in 1756, died in Boston in July, 1828. He received his first instructions from a Scottish painter named Alexander, by whom, when about 18 years of age, ho was taken to Edinburgh. His master died soon after their arrival in that city, and Stuart worked his passage home before the mast, and began practice as a portrait painter at Newport, R. 1. He removed successively to Boston and New York, and set sail in 1778 for London, where for two years he made little progress, and suffered greatly from poverty; but becoming acquainted with Benjamin Wes,t, he received valuable assistance from him, and for several years resided in his family. About 1781 he began practice in London on his own account, and soon rose to great eminence as a portrait painter, rivalling Reynolds and the best English artists of the day. Subsequently he resided successively in Dublin and Paris, and in 1793 returned to America, He went to Philadelphia to paint a portrait of Washington, and destroyed his first picture; but at the second sitting ho produced the well known head from which he painted all his other portraits of Washington, and which has long been regarded as the standard likeness.

The original study, together with a head of Mrs. Washington, is now in the possession of the Boston Athenamm. After residing several years in Washington, he settled in 1806 in Boston. As a painter of heads he holds the first place among American painters, if we except Copley, and his flesh coloring rivals the finest modern efforts. Upon accessories he bestowed little labor, and they are sometimes finished in the most slovenly manner.