The Skater (Portrait of William Grant)
1782
Before he painted George Washington, Gilbert Stuart was just a struggling artist in London until he met William Grant, a wealthy Scotsman with a passion for skating. Stuart captured Grant mid-glide in 1782, arms crossed and looking incredibly cool, essentially inventing the 'action portrait.' The painting was a sensation at the Royal Academy, launching Stuart's career and proving that portraits didn't have to be stiff and boring. You can almost feel the cold air and the scrape of the skates in this dynamic masterpiece.
- Technique
- Oil painting
- Material
- Canvas
Location: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
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