The Painter and the President

Starred review from June 1, 2024
An account of the rocky relationship between the U.S.'s first president and his most famous portrait painter. "They did not," as Albee puts it in a nutshell, "hit it off." Dubbed an "infernal chatterbox" by the grumpy elder statesman, Gilbert Stuart was in the habit of reeling off amusing stories and "corny jokes" to relax his subjects as he worked. Still, both painter and sitter well understood "the power of art"--and the two stuck with each other long enough for the former to break through the latter's reserve, which was exacerbated by the pain of bad dentures, to capture a more animated expression so well that the unfinished image of 1796 has remained by far the best-known portrait of Washington or any president. Stuart went on to paint portraits of five more chief executives, which Innerst incorporates, with the painter's "selfie" and other works, into droll caricatures of 18th-century dignitaries and the busy artist adroitly wielding his brush with many a vigorous "dab" and "swish." A timeline at the end daubs in further biographical details about the disparate duo, and the whole not insignificant historical anecdote is capped by closing comments on Washington's "tooth troubles" and why his picture on the dollar bill has him facing the other way. The result is a humorous yet enlightening work that humanizes seemingly distant or imposing figures. A lighthearted, illuminating, and thought-provoking look at a brief but meaningful historical moment. (bibliography) (Informational picture book. 7-10)

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Starred review from June 1, 2024
Grades 2-5 *Starred Review* The face that stares out a bit grimly from the one-dollar bill is, of course, that of George Washington, and this rollicking story centers on how, in 1796, the famous portrait painter Gilbert Stuart got around Washington's massively bad mood to produce this iconic painting. As Albee points out, part of the problem was that, thanks to a brand-new, poorly fitting set of false teeth, the first president's teeth and jaw ached throughout the long sittings. Readers get two character portraits here: that of impatient, action-oriented Washington and that of the freewheeling Stuart, who broke from the "sit still" school of portraitists and encouraged his subjects to eat and drink, roam around the room, and socialize with family and friends. The illustrations, done with acrylics and pencils, have a whimsical, cutout quality, with swirling brushstrokes in the background emulating Stuart's signature brushwork and putting the emphasis on the characters, while occasional sidebars convey a wealth of historical information. Readers will gain an appreciation of the arduous art of portrait painting, with the added humor of Stuart's psychological tricks. Extensive back matter includes time lines for both Washington's and Stuart's lives, a chronicle of Washington's tooth troubles, and a bibliography. A captivating exploration of the making of one of history's most famous portraits.

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August 1, 2024

K-Gr 4-George Washington did not like to sit still. Fortunately, portrait painter Gilbert Stuart didn't need him to. In fact, Stuart would joke and tell stories and let his subjects walk around the room, and even invite family and friends to join them. Washington's stern expression and pinched mouth (due to his infamous ill-fitting false teeth), for example, went from "glum to glad" when Stuart realized he loved to talk about horses. Stuart painted portraits of many luminaries (lords and ladies, admirals and artists, diplomats and dignitaries), but by far the most famous one was of Washington, which became the basis for the engraving used on the dollar bill. Expressive language and delightful acrylic, pencil, and digital illustrations, which include images from actual portraits, combine to make a lively and interesting biography of a painter and a glimpse into a little-known event in the life of the first president. The book includes a time line, information on Washington's dental woes, an explanation of why the image on the dollar bill is reversed from the original portrait, a bibliography, and source notes. VERDICT Pair this with a traditional biography of Washington for a refreshing look into the legacy of both the president and the painter. Highly recommended.-Sue Morgan

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Starred review from September 2, 2024
Albee and Innerst wittily render the backstory of the portrait of George Washington (1732–1799) that graces the U.S. one-dollar bill. Premier American portraitist Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) wields a “dancing brush” that “captures the very soul of the person he is painting,” but his initial encounter with the president left much to be desired by both parties. Washington begrudgingly agrees to give Stuart another chance, though the president would “rather sit on a horse than sit in a chair,” and considers Stuart an “infernal chatterbox.” The two men share an understanding of “the power of art” to capture not just likeness but legacy, and when Stuart sees Washington looking delightedly at a horse, conversation fodder is found and a famous portrait is born. Elegantly economic, always accessible prose gives a sense of the era’s decorum, while sculptural acrylic, pencil, and digital artwork captures both the artistic process and the wrangling of two unique historical personalities. Secondary characters are portrayed with pale skin. Ages 7–10.