1000 Museums

(1812 – April 27, 1888)

Daughter of the famous American portraitist Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), Jane took over her father’s business when she was just 16. Despite her father’s refusal to teach her, Jane was considered a prodigy and would become her father’s best copyist, learning by watching him and adopting his technique. The youngest of twelve children, she was left with the responsibility of supporting her family after her father’s death. Well-known for her portraits and miniatures, Jane was also a lively socialite in Newport, where her family ultimately settled in 1862, she was well-known for her wit, charm, and her love of dressing up and playing charades.