Gilbert Stuart

Born Kingston (formerly North Kingstown), Rhode Island

Sarah Goodridge, a New England miniaturist who took informal instruction from Gilbert Stuart in the early 1820s, painted this miniature at Stuart�s request around 1825. He was then the most famous artist in Boston, and Goodridge was taken with his formidable personality and craggy features. As Stuart�s daughter recorded, �[Goodridge] seemed to be quite overcome at the idea. . . . [The miniature] is the most life-like of anything ever painted of him.� Goodridge made at least three nearly identical miniatures, and the image was engraved.