Title: The Painter and the President
Author: Sarah Albee
Major Themes: George Washington, Gilbert Stuart, Painting, Art, Presidents
Synopsis: George Washington did not like to have his picture painted, but Gilbert Stuart made it seem almost fun.
It’s always a good day when I find another picture book to read to my little children that teaches them about another little bit of history. The combination of the beautiful artwork in most of these books, and a fun story about a real event or person makes a book that is irresistible to my children—and to me! My most recent find was The Painter and the President. Of course, I knew that George Washington had his picture painted by Gilbert Stuart—what American doesn’t know that?—but how did it happen?
Publisher’s description:
George Washington hated having his portrait painted, but as president of the United States, he knew his image needed to live on. This nonfiction picture book explores how artist Gilbert Stuart created Washington’s most lasting and recognized portrait—the one that’s used on the one-dollar bill.
George Washington and artist Gilbert Stuart didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but both men knew the importance of legacy and the power of art. Though George disliked having his portrait painted—which took days and days to complete—he knew his place in history would require people to know his face. Fortunately, Gilbert Stuart’s unique way of painting didn’t compel his subjects to sit for hours on end—in fact, he encouraged them to move around and even bring friends to chat with. Capturing the soul of each subject, his portraits were unlike any other artist’s. And Gilbert Stuart’s one-of-a-kind portrait of Washington stands the test of time—it’s the one that’s used on the one-dollar bill.
My thoughts:
As with most picture book biographies, The Painter and the President has beautiful, full-color paintings for illustrations. It does not tell the whole story of either George Washington’s or Gilbert Stuart’s life, but only the time when their lives intersected, the time when Stuart was painting Washington’s portrait—which was never finished, by the way! I really enjoyed learning about this story. At the end of the book is a timeline that includes the important dates for both men. This book is a wonderful supplement to any study of early American history.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.
No warnings!
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 3 – 4, 5 – 8
Reading Independently—Ages 7 – 9
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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