American
David Stewart, 1860-1865
Watercolor and graphite over photo mechanical reproduction, 31.8 x 26.7 cm (12 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.)
This is a standing full-length portrait of David Stewart. He is standing, facing our right, with his hands folded on a wooden stick. He is light-skinned, balding, with light brown hair curling over his ears, and a light brown mustache that curls up. He is looking to our left with light brown eyes. He is wearing a long, black jacket and vest over light brown pants, a white high-collared shirt, and a black ribbon tied around the collar in a bow. He has a gold and black ring on one hand, and a gold chain hangs from the bottom of his vest to inside his jacket. He stands beside a medium brown pedestal to our right, and there is a pale pink cloth draped over part of the pedestal.
Vatichino
Commentary
David Stewart (1810-1891), Isabella Stewart Gardner’s father, was the youngest son of Isabella Todd and James Stewart. Before he was 17, David Stewart moved to New York City to import Irish and Scottish merchandise, chiefly linen. He continued to be an importer until 1872, when he began to focus on the emerging mining and iron industry. Isabella Stewart Gardner may have been influenced by her father’s career in textiles when she selected key pieces for the Museum.