Thursday, February 28, 2013

Boston Monuments, Charles Stuart artist painter








Gilbert Charles Stuart 
sculptor H. Carins 
Granite  1897





The prolific portrait painter Gilbert Charles Stuart (1777-1828) is best known for the so-called “unfinished portrait” of George Washington, the face of which is reproduced on the dollar bill. Stuart mainly painted portraits of his wealthy clients, including the first six presidents of the United States, but due to his mismanagement of his business, Stuart died in poverty and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Old South Burying Ground on Boston Common. The grave cannot now be located, but this granite tablet Boston monument commemorates Stuart’s life and work. The tablet depicts a painter’s palette in bas-relief with a quill pen thrust through the thumbhole.

"Boston Bronze and Stone Speak To Us"next edition shall feature this Boston Monument to one of Boston's most celebrated artists.