Albert Gallatin
ca. 1803
Gilbert Stuart, the artist famous for painting countless George Washingtons, turned his brush to one of the Founding Fathers' fiercest political rivals here. Albert Gallatin, the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, sits against a rich crimson backdrop, looking rather pleased with himself in his dark coat and voluminous white cravat. Stuart captures a man of sharp intellect and Swiss origins who helped found New York University and constantly clashed with Alexander Hamilton over the nation's finances. The crumpled paper in his hand hints at the endless ledgers and treaties that defined his career.
Location: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
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