GENERAL DESCRIPTION
John Ashley, a Philadelphia merchant, holds letters, indicating that he was a man of serious business affairs. His coat, with a gap between the collar and wide lapel and his double-breasted waistcoat worn folded out, were fashionable gentlemanly attire for the period. Sketchy, loose brushwork creates a liveliness and vitality and indicates the speed with which Gilbert Stuart painted. Both are aspects of his distinctive style. Known for his ability to depict skin tones and the textures of fabrics, Stuart is also famous for his many portraits of George Washington. Mr. Ashley and his wife bear a surprising resemblance to George and Martha Washington. This may be a deliberate political act of patriotism, the fashion of the time, or, perhaps, a coincidence.
Adapted from
Gail Davitt, DMA Exhibition Label Text for Faces of a New Nation: Colonial American Portraits, 1997.
NOTES
c. 1798
General Description full citation: Gail Davitt, DMA Exhibition Label Copy (1993.75) for Faces of a New Nation: Colonial American Portraits (October 19, 1997- January 10, 1998), September 1997. [Fax to Eleanor Jones Harvey with these label drafts found in educaiton files, and as an undated "American Portraits" research document, Education files.]
American art, is famous for his rich portraits, which catch the momentary aspect of the sitter. Unlike earlier American portraitists, Stuart's main interest was in the face and personality of the sitter, rather than with the objects and material goods which surrounded the person. "I don't want people to look at my pictures and say how beautiful the drapery is; the face is what I care about." This perhaps explains the sometimes abbreviated and sketchy quality of the clothing and settings in some of his portraits, including the DMA's Mr. and Mrs. John Ashley.
In 1793, the artist returned to America after spending 18 years studying and working in England and Ireland. He set up a painting studio in New York. Having no desire to do history painting, Stuart remained interested exclusively in portraiture. In 1795, he went to Philadelphia, determined to paint a portrait of George Washington. There he did portraits of the President, the leaders of government, and the Federalist society. The artist's most important period was in the l790s when he painted George Washington, Mrs. Yates, and the Ashleys. John Ashley (1754-1831) was a Philadelphia merchant. His wife was Sarah MacDonald Ashley (1759-1839). In 1799 Stuart painted the Ashleys' daughter and her husband, and made a replica of the 1798 portrait of John Ashley.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. John Ashley are illustrative of Stuart's style of reduction and suggestion. He was not concerned with depicting the clothing, objects or still-life details (unlike Copley and other American artists), but focused on the personality and character of the sitters. Stuart's main concern, even in the lighting in the portrait of Mr. Ashley,
is with the face, which is richly painted. Several of the main aspects of the artist's style are evident in the Ashley portraits. These stylistic traits include: the quick impression, the main concern with the character, the use of loose brushstrokes, and the use of unblended colors for flesh and glazes which give a luminous quality.
Excerpt from
Anne Bromberg, "Description of Selected Paintings in the Collection," DMA Education files, 1987.
Related Object
PROVENANCE PROBLEM, SEE OTHER STUART
From 1946: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Munger Fund [1] [2]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
[2] Works of art purchased by the Mrs. Stephen I. Munger Endowment are placed in the custody of the Dallas Museum of Art for the purpose of exhibition. The title to all works of art purchased by the Munger Fund remains with the Fund.
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania/United States): TGN: 7014406
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Sarah Ashley nee MacDonald born August 4th, 1759 in London/Married to John Ashley, Feb. 5, 1776/Died in Philadelphia July 12, 1839
John Ashley born September 27, 1754 in London/married to Sarah MacDonald Feb. 5, 1776/Died in Philadelphia Dec. 19, 1831.
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC~Learn more about the life and works of Gilbert Stuart.
- Khan Academy~Read about Stuart's Landsdowne Portrait of George Washington.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1946.37.M
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General Description
John Ashley, a Philadelphia merchant, holds letters, indicating that he was a man of serious business affairs. His coat, with a gap between the collar and wide lapel and his double-breasted waistcoat worn folded out, were fashionable gentlemanly attire for the period. Sketchy, loose brushwork creates a liveliness and vitality and indicates the speed with which Gilbert Stuart painted. Both are aspects of his distinctive style. Known for his ability to depict skin tones and the textures of fabrics, Stuart is also famous for his many portraits of George Washington. Mr. Ashley and his wife bear a surprising resemblance to George and Martha Washington. This may be a deliberate political act of patriotism, the fashion of the time, or, perhaps, a coincidence.
Adapted from
Gail Davitt, DMA Exhibition Label Text for Faces of a New Nation: Colonial American Portraits, 1997.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC~Learn more about the life and works of Gilbert Stuart.
- Khan Academy~Read about Stuart's Landsdowne Portrait of George Washington.
Notes
c. 1798
General Description full citation: Gail Davitt, DMA Exhibition Label Copy (1993.75) for Faces of a New Nation: Colonial American Portraits (October 19, 1997- January 10, 1998), September 1997. [Fax to Eleanor Jones Harvey with these label drafts found in educaiton files, and as an undated "American Portraits" research document, Education files.]
American art, is famous for his rich portraits, which catch the momentary aspect of the sitter. Unlike earlier American portraitists, Stuart's main interest was in the face and personality of the sitter, rather than with the objects and material goods which surrounded the person. "I don't want people to look at my pictures and say how beautiful the drapery is; the face is what I care about." This perhaps explains the sometimes abbreviated and sketchy quality of the clothing and settings in some of his portraits, including the DMA's Mr. and Mrs. John Ashley.
In 1793, the artist returned to America after spending 18 years studying and working in England and Ireland. He set up a painting studio in New York. Having no desire to do history painting, Stuart remained interested exclusively in portraiture. In 1795, he went to Philadelphia, determined to paint a portrait of George Washington. There he did portraits of the President, the leaders of government, and the Federalist society. The artist's most important period was in the l790s when he painted George Washington, Mrs. Yates, and the Ashleys. John Ashley (1754-1831) was a Philadelphia merchant. His wife was Sarah MacDonald Ashley (1759-1839). In 1799 Stuart painted the Ashleys' daughter and her husband, and made a replica of the 1798 portrait of John Ashley.
The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. John Ashley are illustrative of Stuart's style of reduction and suggestion. He was not concerned with depicting the clothing, objects or still-life details (unlike Copley and other American artists), but focused on the personality and character of the sitters. Stuart's main concern, even in the lighting in the portrait of Mr. Ashley,
is with the face, which is richly painted. Several of the main aspects of the artist's style are evident in the Ashley portraits. These stylistic traits include: the quick impression, the main concern with the character, the use of loose brushstrokes, and the use of unblended colors for flesh and glazes which give a luminous quality.
Excerpt from
Anne Bromberg, "Description of Selected Paintings in the Collection," DMA Education files, 1987.
Related Object
PROVENANCE PROBLEM, SEE OTHER STUART
From 1946: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Munger Fund [1] [2]
[1] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
[2] Works of art purchased by the Mrs. Stephen I. Munger Endowment are placed in the custody of the Dallas Museum of Art for the purpose of exhibition. The title to all works of art purchased by the Munger Fund remains with the Fund.
Cultures
Geography
Place of origin: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania/United States): TGN: 7014406
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Sarah Ashley nee MacDonald born August 4th, 1759 in London/Married to John Ashley, Feb. 5, 1776/Died in Philadelphia July 12, 1839
John Ashley born September 27, 1754 in London/married to Sarah MacDonald Feb. 5, 1776/Died in Philadelphia Dec. 19, 1831.
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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