Title
Portrait of Mr. George Gibbs
Object Type
Creator
Date
1798
Notes
George Gibbs was a friend of Gilbert Stuart when they both lived in Newport as young men. Gibbs was a grain merchant who founded the shipping firm of Gibbs and Channing. At one time, the firm owned seventy-five vessels sailing from Newport. In 1787, he married Mary Channing of Newport, the sister of his partner, Walter Channing. Gibbs was a member of Trinity Church, where a pew still bears his name, as well as those of his father and two descendants.
This late portrait is painted with the skills that Stuart mastered during his stay in England; the warm flesh tones and free brushwork is in the style of his later portraits. He included a draped red curtain, the traditional background he used in many of his later portraits. Artist Thomas Sully commented that this portrait was astonishingly realistic-"a living man, looking directly at you."
George Gibbs was a friend of Gilbert Stuart when they both lived in Newport as young men. Gibbs was a grain merchant who founded the shipping firm of Gibbs and Channing. At one time, the firm owned seventy-five vessels sailing from Newport. In 1787, he married Mary Channing of Newport, the sister of his partner, Walter Channing. Gibbs was a member of Trinity Church, where a pew still bears his name, as well as those of his father and two descendants.
This late portrait is painted with the skills that Stuart mastered during his stay in England; the warm flesh tones and free brushwork is in the style of his later portraits. He included a draped red curtain, the traditional background he used in many of his later portraits. Artist Thomas Sully commented that this portrait was astonishingly realistic-"a living man, looking directly at you."
George Gibbs was a friend of Gilbert Stuart when they both lived in Newport as young men. Gibbs was a grain merchant who founded the shipping firm of Gibbs and Channing. At one time, the firm owned seventy-five vessels sailing from Newport. In 1787, he married Mary Channing of Newport, the sister of his partner, Walter Channing. Gibbs was a member of Trinity Church, where a pew still bears his name, as well as those of his father and two descendants.
Cultural Origin
Newport
Medium
Oil on canvas
Extent
canvas: 30 1/2 in x 25 1/4 in
Source
Gift of Mrs. John H. G. Pell
Identifier
1991.008.001
For more information about this item, please contact its owning institution.