William Bayard
1794
Meet William Bayard, looking rather dapper in his pistachio-green coat and powdered wig, captured by Gilbert Stuart in 1794. Stuart, the same artist who painted the George Washington on the dollar bill, was the go-to portraitist for the new American elite. Notice the inkwell and letter in Bayard's hand? They signal his status as a successful merchant. Stuart was famous for his loose, energetic brushstrokes—a break from stiff Neoclassical norms—and his ability to make eyes look incredibly alive, though he was also notorious for leaving paintings unfinished because he'd spend the advance money too quickly!
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
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