Gilbert Stuart: The Portraitist of American Identity Gilbert Stuart, born in the Rhode Island Colony in 1755, stands as a towering figure in the history of American portraiture – a master who shaped the visual representation of power, prestige, and national identity. More than simply a painter, he was an interpreter of character, meticulously crafting images that captured not just likeness but also the very essence of his subjects. His career spanned over six decades, marked by both extraordinary success and periods of intense personal struggle, ultimately leaving behind a legacy of over 1,0…