Price: $25,000
American painter; known for his distinctively American portrait style.
Document Signed, as witness, Gilb: Stuart, one page, quarto, London, August 2, 1783.
The document itself is signed by a William Richardson and reads: “Recd. from John Murray, bookseller Ten pounds ten shillings in full for the Literary property or Copy right of a work of mine entitled “A Philosophical Analysis & Illustration of Shakespeare’s remarkable characters’ whereof one part is already printed, and another delivered at or before the signing of these premises to the said John Murray to be published for his sole benefit & interest. At the same time it is understood that if the work above is successful and sells one edition in octavo that the bookseller or proprietor shall render to the author such further premium or present as may be adequate to the success aforesaid.”
In 1775 Gilbert Stuart went to London and entered the studio of the American artist Benjamin West, with whom he worked for about six years. In 1782 he opened his own London studio and for five years enjoyed great success, but in 1787 he fled to Dublin to escape his creditors.
Matted in tan and chocolate brown with a period engraving. In an antiqued silver gilt frame measuring 19 3/4 inches wide by 15 3/4 inches high.
This item is associated with the following category in our inventory:
- Art
