A Pioneer of American Portraiture: The Life and Art of John Greenwood John Greenwood, a name perhaps less instantly recognizable than his contemporaries Gilbert Stuart or Charles Willson Peale, nevertheless occupies a vital – and often surprisingly radical – position in the history of American portraiture. Born in Boston in 1782, Greenwood’s life unfolded during a period of immense social and political transformation in the young nation, and his art reflects both the aspirations and anxieties of that era. Unlike many artists who sought training abroad, Greenwood was largely self-taught, a fa…