An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of James Ward1779
Artist: Gilbert Stuart
American, 1755 - 1828
Portrait of a young boy, three quarters view, with a dog
29 1/2 x 25 in. (74.93 x 63.5 cm) (canvas)
Oil on canvas
Painting
18th century
The William Hood Dunwoody Fund
In a moment frozen in time, the gentle companionship between a man and his dog unfolds. The dog, a trusty confidant, wears a collar bearing the name “J. Ward”, a testament to their bond. This scene comes to life through the skilled hand of Gilbert Stuart, a talented artist hailing from the serene landscapes of Rhode Island.
Imagine, if you will, the bustling atmosphere of 18th-century London, where Stuart crafted this portrait in the warm embrace of his mentor Benjamin West's studio. Amid the scent of paint and the soft murmur of inspiration, Stuart drew on the grandeur of the past. The pose of his subject, the elaborate costume, and the loyal dog at his side all weave a narrative that pays homage to the royal portraits of British nobility from the 1600s.
In this ephemeral moment, we glimpse an artist’s reverence for tradition, yet also a nod toward the future. For Gilbert Stuart, this was just the beginning of his journey, a journey that would lead him to immortalize the faces of great leaders of the United States. Among them, the visage of George Washington, which would find its way onto every dollar bill, forever etching his legacy in the fabric of American history.
Through this portrait, we not only see a man and his dog; we witness an artist’s storytelling woven into the threads of time, capturing the intimate bond shared between them and hinting at the monumental path that lay ahead.
About the artist
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