Gilbert Stuart’s Unfinished Washington Portrait and the American Experiment

An unfinished portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, known as the Athenaeum Portrait, has grow one of the most recognizable images of the first U.S. President and appears on the one-dollar bill. The painting’s incomplete nature has come to symbolize the ongoing and evolving nature of the American experiment.

The Story Behind the Portrait

In 1796, as his presidency neared its end, George Washington sat for a portrait by artist Gilbert Stuart in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Stuart had previously painted Washington, and Martha Washington requested a second portrait with the understanding she would own the completed work. Still, Stuart, recognizing the potential for profit, only finished Washington’s face, leaving the rest of the canvas largely incomplete. He sold copies of the portrait, earning approximately $100 per print – a sum that led him to call it his “hundred-dollar bill.” [The Atlantic]

The Athenaeum Portrait’s Legacy

Today, the unfinished Athenaeum Portrait is a celebrated image of Washington. Ironically, it later appeared on the one-dollar bill. [The Atlantic] The blank spaces in the painting are often interpreted as representing the unfinished nature of Washington’s work and the ongoing development of the United States.

Gilbert Stuart: A Prominent Portraitist

Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) was a leading painter of the Atlantic world and the early United States. [Mount Vernon] He is renowned for his portraits of key figures from the American Revolution and the early republic, shaping how modern Americans view the Founding Fathers. [Britannica] He created approximately 1,000 portraits during his career, including those of the first six U.S. Presidents. [Wikipedia]

Stuart’s Early Life and Training

Born in Rhode Island in 1755, Stuart developed a passion for both music and drawing. [Mount Vernon] He received artistic training and later traveled to Europe, where he honed his skills. [Britannica]

The Unfinished Revolution

In November 2025, The Atlantic published a special issue revisiting the American Revolution, featuring contributions from 24 journalists, historians, and critics. [The Atlantic] The issue explores the complexities and contradictions of the Revolution, with articles examining figures like King George III and the role of Native nations in shaping American self-government. [The Atlantic] This work is being explored further in a newsletter course, “The Unfinished Revolution.”

Key Takeaways

• Gilbert Stuart’s unfinished portrait of George Washington, the Athenaeum Portrait, is a powerful symbol of the ongoing American experiment.
• Stuart strategically left the portrait unfinished to maximize profits from copies.
• Stuart was a prolific portraitist who captured the likenesses of many prominent figures in early American history.
• The unfinished nature of the portrait reflects the evolving and incomplete nature of the nation itself.