Skater. The Skater is a 1782 oil on canvas portrait of William Grant by the American artist Gilbert Stuart.
Painted while Stuart was living in London, it was the work that first brought the artist broad recognition. In 1775 Stuart left his home in the United States for London, and by 1777 he was apprenticed there to Benjamin West.
By 1781 Stuart's progress was such that West desired to sit for a portrait by the younger painter, and the resulting painting was favorably received at that year's Royal Academy exhibition. Later in 1781 Stuart was approached by William Grant, a well-placed young Scotsman from Congalton in East Lothian, not far from Edinburgh, who wished to commission a full-length portrait.
Stuart had not yet successfully completed a figure in full-length format, he had, in fact, been loathing to accept at least two such previous commissions, and was said to have been incapable of painting a figure beneath the fifth button. Encouraged by the recent reception of his work at the Royal Academy, he agreed to accept the commission from Grant.
When he arrived to begin sitting for the portrait, Grant remarked that on account of the excessive coldness of the weather. the day was better suited for skating than sitting for one's portrait. Presently artist and patron left for the Serpentine in Hyde Park, where the two men took to the ice, and Grant engaged in a series of skating maneuv
Painted while Stuart was living in London, it was the work that first brought the artist broad recognition. In 1775 Stuart left his home in the United States for London, and by 1777 he was apprenticed there to Benjamin West.
By 1781 Stuart's progress was such that West desired to sit for a portrait by the younger painter, and the resulting painting was favorably received at that year's Royal Academy exhibition. Later in 1781 Stuart was approached by William Grant, a well-placed young Scotsman from Congalton in East Lothian, not far from Edinburgh, who wished to commission a full-length portrait.
Stuart had not yet successfully completed a figure in full-length format, he had, in fact, been loathing to accept at least two such previous commissions, and was said to have been incapable of painting a figure beneath the fifth button. Encouraged by the recent reception of his work at the Royal Academy, he agreed to accept the commission from Grant.
When he arrived to begin sitting for the portrait, Grant remarked that on account of the excessive coldness of the weather. the day was better suited for skating than sitting for one's portrait. Presently artist and patron left for the Serpentine in Hyde Park, where the two men took to the ice, and Grant engaged in a series of skating maneuv
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