Stuart, Gilbert “Thos. Jefferson. President of the United States of America. Painted by Stuart in America”

After Gilbert Stuart.  “Thos. Jefferson.  President of the United States of America. Painted by Stuart in America.” 

London: J. Sewell, June 1, 1802.  From the European Magazine.  4 x 3 (oval).  Stipple engraving by Edward Orme.  Full margins.  Traces of original binding glue and biding holes right hand side edge of paper.  Very good condition.  Rare.  Reference: The Lost Portraits of Thomas Jefferson Painted by Gilbert Stuart.  Amherst College, 1959; Cunningham.  The Image of Thomas Jefferson in the Public Eye.  1981.  Includes the former reference publication.  A/A

A life time print of Thomas Jefferson from the first life portrait painted by Gilbert Stuart.  In May of 1800, Jefferson sat for Stuart in his Germantown studio.  Jefferson never took possession of the painting and the unfinished painting remained with Stuart.  When Jefferson became president, Stuart painted a second portrait of Jefferson in 1803 as Stuart was dissatisfied with the initial painting.  The initial painting became lost over time.    

In 1937, a much worn, torn and neglected oil painting of a sitter facing left was auctioned off in New York.  It was discovered that the sitter was Thomas Jefferson.  The painting was x-rayed and it was found that Stuart’s initial unfinished image of Jefferson was underneath the second life image.  Stuart painted Jefferson facing to the left in both first and second life paintings.    

This print is based on the lost first life portrait of Jefferson but with some alterations issued by Edward Orme and appeared in the publication the Monthly Visitor in September of 1801.  Instead of engraving a new plate, he used an existing plate with the bust portrait of Muzzio Clementi who was facing to the right.  Orme burnished out Clementi’s head and engraved Jefferson’s in its place from the first life portrait.  In addition, he broadened the shoulders, and covered the white waistcoat and white ruffle of his shirt with additional engraving.  This print also appeared a year later in 1802 in the publications the European Magazine and the London Review.