Stephen Van Rensselaer III

1793

Returns to the United States to paint Washington

After 18 years in Britain and Ireland, leaving numerous unfinished paintings behind, Stuart returns with a plan to paint a portrait of Washington, have an engraver reproduce it and support his family from the sale of the engraving. Settling briefly in New York, he seeks commissions from influential people who could bring him to Washington’s attention.

1794

Paints John Jay and gets a letter to Washington

His portrait of the statesman John Jay brought Stuart a letter of introduction to Washington.

1795

Washington sits for Stuart

Later that year Washington posed for him. Stuart painted him in a series of iconic portraits, each of which brought a demand for copies and kept him busy and highly paid for years.

1795

Opens a studio near Philadelphia

In 1795 he moves to Germantown, a suburb of Philadelphia, and opens a studio there. In his Philadelphia years he also painted the Spanish ambassador Josef Jaudenes, who commissioned a portrait for his wedding to an American woman.