George Washington (The Landsdowne Portrait) 1796

Gilbert Stuart painted this portrait of George Washington, now at the Brooklyn Museum, using oil on canvas. The composition is dominated by a play of textures and fabrics, from the velvet of Washington’s suit to the heavy drape of the crimson curtain, each rendered to emphasize its material presence. Consider the figure of Washington, he is framed by classical architectural elements, which add a sense of stability and order. The artist masterfully employs linear perspective, guiding the viewer's eye through the space. Stuart draws our attention to Washington’s gesture with his right hand. It is a rhetorical device intended to signal leadership and integrity, even though Washington may have suffered from dental problems and this was a distraction. Through these formal choices, Stuart elevates Washington to a symbolic figure. This portrait is not merely a likeness, but a carefully constructed image of power and authority, designed to project the ideals of the new republic.