Manuscript DS, signed “G't Stuart,” one page, 8.25 x 6, January 25, 1822. Receipt of payment for John Langdon’s purchase of Gilbert Stuart’s commissioned portrait painting of George Washington, in full: “Boston, Jany 25, 1822. Rec’d of John W. Langdon, Three hundred dollars in full for a Portrait of George Washington late President of the United States painted by myself by direction of William D. Lewis Esq’r of St. Petersburg.” Signed at the conclusion by Stuart. In very good condition, with an old tape repair to the back of the central horizontal fold, and irregular staining affecting only appearance. Stuart remains rare across all signed formats, with this example’s desirability further augmented by the mention of one of the artist’s beloved Washington portraits.
Accompanied by a notarized TLS from prior owner Howard Young, dated March 19, 1926, which is headed “History of ‘The Portrait of George Washington’ by Gilbert Stuart…Painted by order of William D. Lewis in 1822 and to be known hereafter as ‘The Lewis-Wilson Portrait of George Washington.’ The letter reads, in full: “Two brothers named John D. Lewis and William D. Lewis of Philadelphia, were engaged in the export business to Russia and spent six months of each year in St. Petersburg. One of them, the younger, on his way to Russia, stopped in England and there learned that a life sized portrait of Washington, belonging to some nobleman, was being raffled. This is now known as the ‘Lansdowne Washington’ and he bought a ticket in the raffle for fifty guineas. When he reached St. Petersburg he told the elder brother about it, who ridiculed him for wasting his money and so convinced him that he sold the ticket to the elder brother who was better off. In the course of time the raffle took place, and to the disappointment of the younger brother, that ticket won. The one who now possessed the portrait decided to live his life in Russia where he died.
William D. Lewis, the younger brother, was so disappointed at having so nearly become the possessor of such a valuable portrait that he wrote to John W. Langdon, the American correspondent of the Lewises, instructing him to commission Stuart to paint a portrait of Washington for him. This order was given the latter part of 1821 and the portrait, 34 1/2 x 44 1/2", was painted. The canvas is in a most excellent condition, never having been relined or restored, and the color is superb. The portrait is undoubtedly unique – Stuart never having painted anything like it, as far as is known, and there is no replica of it in existence. It was delivered to the family in March 1822, as evidenced by a receipted bill in which Gilbert Stuart acknowledges the receipt of $300. for the portrait – and this receipt is signed in Stuart’s own handwriting.
The portrait has been hanging in the same home, or in the homes of descendants of the family until it was taken to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, in 1910, where it has hung ever since. It has been called the ‘Pennsylvania Academy Washington.’ I took this painting out of the Pennsylvania Academy on March 10, 1926, having purchased it from the Estate of William D. Lewis, and sold it to Mrs. Alfred G. Wilson of Detroit, Michigan to whom I delivered the painting personally.” The letter is presented inside a folder that contains a 10.5 x 13.75 photograph of the Washington portrait by Stuart, published by the Crossman Studio of Brooklyn, New York.
The ‘Lewis-Wilson Portrait of George Washington’ is now on exhibit at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, as part of a long-term cultural agreement with the French government. The painting, which shows the first American president sitting at a desk, one hand resting on a document, the other cradling a sword hilt, was purchased for an undisclosed amount from the Los Angeles-based Armand Hammer Foundation in the spring of 2014, with similar portraits by the artist having sold for about $8 million in the past.
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