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TRANSCRIPT
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- SUBTHEME: Painting and SculptureNATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS
Form 10-300 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE:
R.v. 6-72 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island
- . -COUNTY,
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES WashingtonNAT.:UNAL JJIL3TQRIjflVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM . FOR UPS USE ONLY
LAJIDMARKS . ENTRY DATE
Type all entries completeapplicable sections
jHAME. .H.: .. .t’ .t: ..
COMMON:
Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceAND/OR HISTORIC:
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -
___
.:.*:::.:::.:
STREET ANDNuMSER:
815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT;
SaunderstownSTATE
CODE COUNTY: _ CODE
Rhode Island 02874 44 Washington
.
009Jf:clLASSIFIci4TlOI’l ., .:. H 1 . :..H:;
- CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUSACCESSIBLE
Check One . TO THE PUBLIC
El District Building El Public Public Acquisition: Occupied Yes:
o Site Structure Z Private El In Process El Unoccupied 2 Restricted
El Object Both fl Being Considered o Preservation work El Unrestricted
in progress El Na
PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate
El Agricultural El Government El Park El Transportation El Comments
O Commercial El Industrial El Private Residence El Other Specifr
o Educational El Military 0 Religious
o Entertainment Museum El Scientific
EQWN E ROF PROPERTY. . .:.VH:H. .*::.c.i:1 :::.
OWNERS NAME:
Gilbert Stuart Memorial, Inc. .
STREET AND NUMBER:O 1
Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: STATE: I QODF
Saunderstown Rhode Island 4
STREET AND NuMBER:
COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS. ETC:
_____
North Itingstown Town Hall
SOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION
CITY OR T0WNt
Boston Neck Road
North Kingstown
STATE
Rhode Island
IQ,N IN .E Xl SUP YE ‘V S .:.::.
TITLE OF SURVEY,
None known
p3 00,
I-" -<
rt0CODE
44
-DATE OF SURVEY: El Federal El State 0 County El Local
DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:
STREET AND NUMBER: .
CITY OR TOWN: STATE: CODE -
I,z-IS-C
SC
I,I,
0
-IIII
110
z-o0
Cinml
0zr-C
-DESCRIPTION
Check One
CONDITIONk!_eh;t Good 0 Foir 0 Deteriorated 0 Ruins 0 Unesposed
check One *Check One
El Altered _ Unaltered fl Moved Originol Site
DESCRIDE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL iiknown PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
The environment that young Gilbert Stuart knew as home two centuries ago,remains relatively unchangedand removed from modernintrusions. Thewoodland and river-fed streams surrounding the house are quite undisturbed
by man-made development. The original Stuart house, with aworking replicaof its water wheel and millstone for grinding snuff have beencarefullypreserved by local efforts.
Only a few yards from the house, on the opposite side of the stream is aone room grist mill, built in 1757 while Gilbert Stuart was an infant.Its water wheel shared the waterfall’s power with the snuff mill wheel and.the grist mill is so close to the Stuart house that for a long time thetwo were connected by a wooden covered passagewaywhich spanned the stream
in between. The only major contemporary elements in the environment are th1caretaker’s cottage a remodeled carriage house, and a small parking lotnear the road. The house, grist mill and grounds are open to the public msix days per week.
. rn
The gambrel roofed, clapboarded Stuart Birthplace, today painted dark red, -
was built sometime prior to 1751. . It was built into a hill, on the fall zline beside the waterfall which propels the mill’s water wheel, and there- ,
fore, the land to the north of the house is higher, and the entrance to thenorth side of the house is on the second story. . -
The snuff mill, with its operating millstone, and a large kitchen occupy C
the first or ground floor, which has two entrances on the south side of nthe building. As you enter the house on the north, at the second floorlevel, the northeast bedroom, whereGilbert Stuart is believed to have -
been born, is immediately to the left, and beyond it on the east side isanother bedroom. One large room occupies the entire west side of thesecond story.
The house was restored during the 1930’s under the direction of Norman M.
Isham, and since then the Gilbert Stuart Memorial, Inc. has maintained itas a simple mid-eighteenth centurydwelling with wooden planked floors,simply pane-led fireplaces and cupboards, exposed beams and members andwhite plaster walls throughout the interior. The rooms are filled with
furnishings appropriate to the period and the Stuart family. Unfortunatelyall the items associated with Gilbert Stuart and the few pieces of hiswork that the association owned were stolen five years ago and have not
been recovered.
The grist mill next door is a plain wooden, one room building, with a
large stone chimney and a deep stone basement. The mill stone and water
wheel are extant butpresently do not function.
continued
Form 10-300, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE -
July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island -
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY
INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORMWashington
fltirnr . FORNPSUSEONLYztitljQNAy
J IC. . ENTRY NUMeER DATE
LAND Ry Continuation Sheet
Number all entries
7. Descri!tion: 1 Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
-- BOUNDARIES
Local historians believe that the Stuarts originally owned approximatelythree acres of land around their house. Since there is no documentation toverify the exact limits of their property, I have used the dimensions of Lot#9 on the enclosed plat map #38 as the landmark boundaries. This 2.18 acresection includes the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace, the nearby grist mill, the -
caretakerts cottage non-historic and a small parking lot, as well as avisually protective portion of the streams, pond and woodland. The GilbertStuart Memorial, Inc. who own and maintain the property, have acquiredtwenty acres surrounding the landmark during the past forty years and theyplan to keep and increase this area as a protective buffer zone around theStuart Birthplace.
The boundary of the landmark is that of lot #9, plat 21 as shown in red onthe accompanying map #38. Beginning at a point on the north side of GilbertStuart Road 510 feet west of where the road makes a right angle, 270.3 feetnorth, theh west 132.44 feet and across the mill creek, thence continuing48 feet, thence southwest 224.90 feet, thence south 265.83 feet to the northside of Gilbert Stuart Road, thence 310 feet along the north side of theroad to the point of beginning. -
PERIOD Check One or Mote as Appropriate
O Pre-Columbign El 16th Century isth Century fl 20th CentUry
o 15th Century 0 77th Century 0 19th Century
SPECIFIC DATEI5I it Applicable anti Known 1755-1761AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE Chock One or More as Appropriate
Aboriginal 0 Education 0 Political 0 Urban Planning
0. Prehistoric 0 Engineering 0 Religion/Phi. - 0 Other Specify
o Historic-- 0 Industry - losophy -
________________________
0 Agriculture 0 Invention- 0 Science
o Architecture 0 Landscape 0 Sculpture -
Z Art Architecture 0 Social/Human
________________________
0 Commerce 0 Literature itarian
________________________
O Communications o Military 0 Theater
______________________
0 Conservation o Music 0 Transportation
________________________
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Gilbert Stuart, perhaps the most famous American portrait painter, wasborn and spent his early childhood in this tranquil spot at-the junctionof the Mattatoxet stream and the Pattaquamscott tidal river in southernRhode Island. The gambrel roofed house was built between two streams,beside a waterfall which propelled the waterwheel on the east side of thehouse. On the ,ground floor of this building, in 1751, the artist’s fatherbegan what was possibly the first snuff mill in America, while his familylived in the stories above. December 3, 1755 Gilbert Stuart was born inthis hOuse and he lived here until 1761, when his father sold his share ofthe unsuccessful snuffproducing venture and moved his family to Newport.
BIOGRAPHY -
Stuart, at an early age, showed his artistic talent. The young Stuart’sability in drawing induced a Scotch artist, Cosmo Alexander, to take onthe youth as a protege, and the two subsequently travelled to SouthCarolina and then to Scotland. Alexander’s death in Scotland strandedLI Stuart, who eventually managed to return to Rhode Island, wearing littlemore than rags. Nevertheless, Stuart immediately resumedpainting,hiring a blacksmith to pose for, him. In spite of some success inattracting commissions, the artist wanted to o to England to study and inthe spring of 1775 he sailed from Boston.
Once in Great Britain, Stuart remained abroad for almost twenty years,where he achieved fame as a portrait painter. After arriving in England,Stuart was aided by an old Newport friend, but within about four years hehad entered the studio of Benjamin West, the expatriate American painterand benefactor of young American artists who studied in London.Although Stuart lived with 1est for almost four years, the young artistapparently gained more from West’s important social contacts then fromany painting instruction by the older man. Whereas West delighted inmammoth historical subjects, which Stuart said West’painted by the acre,Stuart concentrated on portraits. His portraits,moreover reflected hisown inherent skill and -kenness, Stuart evidently being as uninfluenced byother artists of current note as he was by Weét. . -.
If Stuart developed his own style, there is little doubt that Westts.hackinci aided Stuartts rise to a position of prominence as a portraitist
Form 1O-300a UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE
July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode IslandNATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COUNTY
Ira m * INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORMWashington
%LS1 IONAL trL,j URIC FOR NPS USE ONLYLAN.DMLLI?!Ufl . . ENTRY NUMNER DATE
Continuation Sheet
Number eli entrlee
8. Statement of Significance: 1 Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
in Great Britain. As a result,. by 1782 Stuart enjoyed such a handsomebusiness, that he rented a luxurious home in London and lived- in a lavishfashion. He painted very rapidly, and Sir Joshua Reynolds,John S.
- Copley, his old mentor West, and innumerable other prominent people satfor him. An even more exact indication of Stuart’s success is that hisprice for a portrait quickly ‘rose from five to thirty guineas.
Stuart’s zest for living equalled his artistic talent. Because ofhisgay life in London, the painter by 1788 had acquired such debts that hehad to move to, Ireland in order to escape imprisonment. As before, hepainted furiously, occasionally having six sitters on a single day, andlived as he had in London. Within five years debt again forced a move,this time to America.
Although Stuart’s financial straits influenced his return to America in1792, the painter’s desire to paint George Washington also stimulatedStuart to leave Ireland. Stuart was to paint three life portraits ofWashington, the first of which was done in 1794. Although Stuart hadnever been overawed by any previous famous sitter, he apparently was by
- Washington, and his first portrait of the general has a stiffness in it.A full-length portrait then followed, but it was only with the "AthenaeumPortraitt of the general that Stuart caught the inner spirit ofWashington. Stuart never completed the painting, realizing that he couldnot improve on the spontaniety of the moment as Washington had sat beforehim, and this portrait has become the most famous of all of the paintingsof Washington. Even in Stuart’s day the excellence of the painting wasappreciated, and Stuart, who always needed money, unabashedlymade copyafter copy of it, referring to the copies as his "hundred-dollar bills."1Indeed, he produced so many copies that they came to be little more thansuperficial renderings of the subject.
Stuart is just as interesting as a person as he is as an artist. He hada warm personality and a sharp mind. Proud and witty, he once retortedto Samuel Johson’s inquiry as to where he had learned to speak Englishso well by saying that it was not from Johnson’s dictionary; and when anactor fell asleep as he sat for Stuart, the incensed painter gave thesitter ass’s ears in the portrait. Primarily concerned with character ina sitter, Stuart once groaned about his art, "What a damned business isthat of portrait painter. You bring him a potato and expect he will
?aint you a peach."2 Stuart also hugely enjoyed talking, and followingQuoted in James Thomas Flexner, Gilbert Stuart, A Great Life in BriefNew York, 1955, p. 143. -
2 Quoted in Eugen Neuhaus, The History and Ideals of American Art Stanford, California, 1931, pp. 37-38.
continued
Form 10-300,July 1969
STATE
Rhode Island -
COUNTY
WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY - -
ENTRY NUMeER - DATE
a rare visit to church after moving to Boston in 1805 the painter remarked:"I do not like the idea of a mangetting up in a box and having all theconversation to himself. .
. ." After settling in Boston, Stuart continued,to paint almost until the day he died, July 9, 1828.
3 Quoted in Flexner, Stuart, p. 182. -
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE’INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
- INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORMRATIONAL HISTORIC -. -
LANDMARFS; Continuation Sheet
Nomber eli entriea
8. Statement of Significance: 2 Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES - - -- - ‘ - -- -
Gilbert Stuart, Portraitist of the Youg Rcppblic, 1755-1828. Washington:- National Gallery of Art, 1967. - - - -
Cahill, Holger, and Barr, Alfred H., Jr., Art in America. -
Flexner, James Thomas, The Light of Distant Skies, 1760-1835. New York;1954. -
-
Gilbert Stuart, A Great Life in Brief. New York, 1955.Neuhaus, Eugen, Tbe History and Ideas of American Art. Stanford, California,- 1931. -
Tuckerman, Henry T., Book of the Artists. New York, 1867.
fi.;’E:-cEoGRAPHIcAA_-- -- - -- --
:---. --‘- a--: --y
LATITUDE AND LflNITUOE COORDINATES L*TITUF’E AND LONGI’IDE COORDINATES
DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROERTY 0 DEFINING TH Lt!; rH POIN I OF A -IOI-’ERTY
-- R
OF LESS THAN TFW ACRES’
CORNER LATITUDE - LONGI TUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE -
NW
NE
SE
Sw
Degrees Minutes Seconds° .
° . - .
° . .
0
Degrees Minutes Seconds0 .
-.0
0
0 I
Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds
UTN0l9.29S96O.49l7 °
IAPPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 2:18 acres
ILIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIE5 OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES
STATE: - CODE COUNTY
STATE: - CODE COUNTY:
STATE: CODE COUNTY:
STATE: CODE COUNTY: -
:::FORM- PREPaIRED BY.:- -- .-_-.: ;.f.:::....:::.,.:_::.::: .::: --
NAME AND TITLE: Blanche Higgins Schroer, Historian, Landmark Review Project;No Original Report -
ORGANIZATION DATE
Historic Sites Survey - Sept. 25. 1974STREET AND NUMOER:
1100 L Street, NW. - -
CITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE
Washingtoni!2,:-.s.TTE LIAISON OFFICER:CERTIFIC41ION
District of Columbia 11:- NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION, - -
As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na
tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law
89-665, 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion
in the National Register and certify that it has been
evaluated according to the c-iteria and procetres set
forth by the National Park service. The recommended
level of significance of this nomination is:
National C State C Local 0
NATIOtIAL HIST-3RICName
_______________________________
Title
DateNATIOtTAL HISTORIC
LAtTUI4àItICS
I hereby certify that this property is included in the
National Register. -
-IUT1ONAL }TISfU’
r. &NDMMUS Landrncr1t. tA’
Director. Office of Archeology and NieIbr.-o’Pr-e.ervaiiofl -
D-’e
ATTEST: I hid, I. &rC1 ....r/
Keeper ol
Date . u
tn
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR- ‘ NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH F.ORM
.,f,:::,,’
J!OMMON: Gilbert Stuart BirthplacelAND/OR fIISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -
jjj.OCA T ION5TREET AND NUMBER:
815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: .. . -
Saunderstotm
STATE: - CODE COUNTY - CODE
Rhode Island 44 Washington - 009PHOTO REFERENCE
‘HOTO CREDIT: National Park ServiceDATE OF PHOTO: 19644EGATIVE FILED AT:
IOENTIF’ICATI0&
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM
iZ US COVERIaIENT PRINTING OFFIcE: 1073-729-
STATE -
Rhode IslandCOUNT V
WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY
ENTRY NUMBER DATE
:::.-+:‘.: ,v,.-’:,-.:::.’" .:‘::.,..,?::‘.::::.,:::‘ .:.k1-: ,
COMMON: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -
-_ AND/OR HISTORIC:- Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -_ -
STREET AND NUMBER;
815 Gilbert Stuart Road -
CITY OR TOWN: _ -
Saunderstown - -
STATE:-
CODE COUNTY; CODE
Rhode Island [44 Washington 009HOT O. RE F ER E NC E
EGATiVE FILED AT:Historic Sites Survey, National Park Service, Washington,D.C.
4 IDENTIFICATION
_____
NOTO CREDIT: Blanche Higgins Schroer. NPSDATE OF PHOTO: - - August 1974
DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC.
Gilbert Stuait BirthplaceSouth facade
Form No. 10-3Db1/72
STATE
Rhode Is land
Type all p attach to or enclose with photograph
COUNTY
Washinflon - - -
FOR NPS USE ONLYENTRY NUMBER DATE -
DESCRIBE VIEW. DIPECTION. ETC
South facade, Stuart Birthplace
:rm No. 10.3Db172
Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph
;i?r’. I---k -
rg $rJ
-
Form No. 1O.3Ola7172
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTQRIC PLACES
PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM
Type all entries . attach to or enclosewith photograph
815 Gilbert Stuart Road
lAND/OR HISTORIC:
OCAT IONTREET AND NUMThER
SaundetstOfl
Rhode Island
C P E0 ULan -
:ATEOFPMOTO: August 1974 ___-
EGATIVE FILED A1:BiStOriC Sites Survey, National. Park Service, Washington,D.C.
DIRE o N. -£ T -
- - -- - ‘: -- - - - -- - - - - ---- -: -
- - - -- - - - -
-
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
So1.tth facade
-A’ US GOVERNMENT PRNTNG FCE 913 729152/1446 B - I
-:
I
Form No. 10-3Db7172
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES-
PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM - -
Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph -
STATE
Rhode IslandCOUNTY -
Washington
FOR NPS USE ONLY
ENTRY NUMBER DATE
.1&v-if.:V - Y2- :: . .::I-Y ..::.:.:::i
COMMON: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -
ND/OR HISTORIC; Gilbert - Stuart BirthplaceI,.OCATIONSTREET AND NUMBER:
815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: . - - - -
Saunderstown -
STATE: CODE COUNTY: -- CODE
Rhode Island - 44 - Washington 009PNQTO.RErERENcE -. - -
‘HQTO CREDIT: - Blanche Iiggins Schroer, NPSDATE OF PHOTO; Aucnis t 1974
uJILl
‘JEGATIVE FILED Atilistoric Sites Survey, National -Park Service, Washington, D.C.
Form No. 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE - -
Rev. 742 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island --
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HIStORIC PLACESCOUNTY
- - Washington -
- PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY- ENTRY NUMBER DATE
Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map - -
Z 3NAME
- - 0 1COMMON: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace - . - -
- __JAND/OR HISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -- - -- -
_._.OCATIQN:... .::.s: .: . . - - - - -.
STREET AND NUM BER: . . -
U -- 815 Gilbert Stuart Road - - -
CITY OR TOWN: - - --
- Saunderstown - -
p... STATE: * CODE COUNTY; CODE
Rhode Island - . 44 Washington 009MAP REFERENCE.:.: -. v..:Y.-:-.:::*. ‘-::.:: - .. T.: -
SOURCE:-
Plat p from records of North Kingstotm Town Hall
SCALE; - 1 inch = 100 feetDATE: - noneIii
J REQUIREME4.1TS _:: .::::i.: .f.:;..i i.:E-i
TO at INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS - - -
- 1. Property broundories where required.
2. North orrow. -
3. Lotitude ond longitude reference.
* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1973-729-148/1441 3-I
Porn No. 10-301 - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE
Rev. 7-72 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES coaington
PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY -
- .. ENTRY NUMBER DATE
S Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map
Z l. NAE:..:-..;-.- .:: .- .:::+ H.-:-.:::-:-. y ::.: ..-.
o COMMON; Gilbert Stuart Birthplace- AND/OR HISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
I.- j_LOCATIONSTREET AND NUM SER; -
U 815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: -
Saunderstownp... STATE: CODE COUNTY; CODE
 Rhode Island 44 washington - 009IIIMAP REFERENCE
Z T -.. - - - -ISOURCE:
- I U.S.G.S. 7.StSeries -
lii EfLE; 1:24.000
w_Jy3ATE: 1957 -- - -
TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS
1. Property broundaries Where required.
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I SCALE 1:24000 . - -
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Form 10.300R.v. 6.12
--
‘-. .- .-
- . -.- THEE: Arts and Sciences . -, -
-- SIJBTHENE: Painting and Sculpture -
NATIONAL HISTORIC IANDMAflCSUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESNAT.:ONAL HISTODIfl4VENTORY - NOMINATION FORM -
LAIJDMnIUCS --
Type all entries - complete applicable sections
STATE:
Rhode Island-COUNTY, -
WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY
ENTRY DATE
NAME -.- --.-
COMMON: -
Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceAND/OR HISTORIC: - -
Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceLOCAT4ON
ISTREET AND NUMBER: -
815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:
Saunderstown - -
STATECODE COUNTY, CODE
Rhode Island 02874 44 Washington 009 -
CLASSIFICATION
______________________________ ____________ ___________
CATEGORYCheck One
-
OWNERSHIP - STATUSACCESSIBLE
TO THE PUBLIC
El District Building
El Site El Structure
El Object-
El Public IPublic Acquisition;
Private j El In Process
Both El Being Considered
. -
Occupied
El Unoccupied
El Preservation workin progress
Yes;
Restricted
El Unrestricted
El No
PRESENT USE Check One or More as Appropriate
El Agricultural - El Government El Park El Transportation El Comments
0 Commercial C Industrial El PriYate Residence El Other Specify
El Educational El Military El Religious - -
El Entertainment Museum El Scientific
t4. OWNER OF PROPERTY-OWNERS
STREET
NANE:
GilbertAND NUMBER:
Gilbert
Stuart
Stuart
Memorial, Inc./
Road
.2.-
9.
9’- ‘3 ii /
-
Zm
CD
HaCITY OR
LOCATION
TOWN;
SaunderstownSTATE:
Rhode IslandCODE
44
STREET AND NUMBER:
OURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC;
North Kingstown Town Hall
Boston Neck RoadCITY OR TOWN: STATE CODE
- North Kingstown Rhode Island - 44
DATE OF SURVEY:
IN gxIs11N6.sl.JR.vE’t’s-:--. ...:ETITLE OF SURVEY;
None known
zP3to
I0rt0
El Federal El State El County El LocalDEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS:
STREET AND NUMBER:
CITY OR TOWN: - STATE: CODE
PTz.4
-C
1CSaP1
F7 DESCRIPTION - - - --t .
Check One -
CONDITIONEl Excellent C Fair’ El Dete:iorated El Ruins - El Unexposed--
t Check One Check One -
0 Altered Unaltered- El Moved 5 Original Site
DESCRIDE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL it known PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
The environment that young Gilbert Stuart knew as home two centuries ago, -
remains relatively unchanged-andremoved-from modern intrusions. Thewoodland and river-fed streams surrounding the house are quite undisturbedby man-made development. The original Stuart house, with a working replicaof its water wheel and millstone for grinding snuff have been carefullypreserved by local efforts.
Only a few yards from the house, on the opposite side of the stream is aone room grist mill, built in 1757 while Gilbert Stuart was an infant.Its water wheel shared the waterfall’s power with the snuff mill.wheel andthe grist mill is so close to the Stuart house that for a long time thetwo were connected by a wooden covered passagewaywhich spanned the streamin between. The only major contemporary elementsin the environment are thEcaretaker’s cottage a remodeled carriage house, and a small parking lotnear the road. The house, grist mill and grounds are open to the publicsix days per week. - . - - - :-
-.
The gambrel roofed, clapboarded Stuart Birthplace, today painted dark red, -
was built sometime prior to 1751. It was built into a hill, on the fall zline beside the waterfall which propels the mill’s water wheel, and there- ,,fore, the land to the north of the house is higher, and the entrance tothe.north side of the house is on the second story.
The snuff mill, with its operating millstone, and’ a-large kitchen occupy - C
the first or ground floor,.which has two entrances on the south side of -. nthe building. As you enter the house on the north, at the second floorlevel, the northeast bedroom, whereGilbert Stuart is believed to have -
been born, is immediately to the left, and beyond it on the east side isanother bedroom. One large room occupies the entire west side of thesecond story.
The house was restored during the 1930’s under the direction of Norman M.Isham, and since then the Gilbert Stuart Memorial, Inc. has maintained.itas a simple mid-eighteenth centurydwelling with wooden planked floors,simply pane-led fireplaces and cupboards, exposed beams and members and -
white plaster walls throughout the interior. The rooms are filled with -
furnishings appropriate to the period and the Stuart family. Unfortunatelyall the items associated with Gilbert Stuart and the few pieces of his -
work that the association owned were stolen five years ago and have notbeen recovered. -
The grist mill next door is a plain wooden, one room building, with a
large stone chimney and a deep stone basement. The mill stone and water
wheel are extant butpresently do not function.
continued
Form 1O-300.i - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE
July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVIcE Rhode- Island
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISiOR.IC PLACES COUNTY
- INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORMWashington
/-i--F-FOR NPS USE ONLY
% LJ1 i. Q//1 nIC . . ENTRY NUMBER DATE
LMijc;- vc - Continuation Sheet- *-‘--tJ__-
__________________________
Numbor all entries . -
7. Description: 1 - Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
- BOUNDARIES -
Local historians believe that the Stuarts originally owned approximately
three acres of land around their house. Since there is no documentation toverify the exact limits of their property, I have usedthe dimensions of Lot#9 on the enclosed plat map #38 as the landmark boundaries. This 2.18 acresection includes the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace, -the nearby grist mill, the
- caretaker’s cottage non-historic and a small parking lot,- as well as avisually protective portion of the streams, pond and woodland. The Gilbert
Stuart Memorial, Inc. who own and maintain the property, have acquired
twenty acres surrounding the landmark during the past forty years and they
plan to keep and increase this area as a protective buffer zone around theStuart Birthplace. -
The boundary of the landmark is that of lot #9, plat 21 as shown in red onthe accompanying map #38. Beginning at a point on the north side of Gilbert
Stuart Road 510 feet west of where the road makes a-right angle, 270.3 feet
north, theh west 132.44 feet and across the mill creek, thence continuing
48 feet, thence southwest 224.90 feet, thence south 265.83 feet to the north
side of Gilbert Stuart -Road, thence 310 feet along the north side of theroad to the point of beginning. - -
jSlGNlFlCANCE --- - - :- - - - -: -: - - - - -- --
PERIOD Check One or More asApproprialo -
0 Pr.-Caluntbian El 16th Century X lAth Century - F] 20t4, Century
El 15th Century El 17th Century flJ 19th Century - -
SPECIFIC DATEtSI Ii Applicable and Known 1755-1761AREAS OF SIONI FICANCE Check One or More as Appropriate -
Abor ,ginaI El Education El Political - El ‘Urban Planning
El Prehistoric El Engineering El Religion/Phi- El Other Specity
El Historic-- El Industry - losophy
El Agriculture El Invention El Science
________________________
El Architecture- El Landscape El Sculpture
Art Architecture El Social/Human.
________________________
0 Commerce El Literature- itarian
________________________
El Communications El Military -- El Theater
________________________
El Conservation El Music El Transportation
________________________
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
Gilbert Stuart, perhaps the most famous American portrait painter, was- born and spent his early childhood in this tranquil spot at the junction
of the Mattatoxet stream and the Pataquamscott tidal river in southernRhode Island. The gambrel roofed house was built between two streams,beside a waterfall which propelled the waterwheel on the east side of thehouse. On the ground floor of this building, in 1751, the artist’s fatherbegan what was possibly the first snuff mill in America, while his familylived in the stories above. December 3, 1755 Gilbert Stuart was born inthis house and he lived here until 1761, when his father sold his share ofthe unsuccessful snuff producing venture and moved his family to Newport.
BIOGRAPHY
Stuart, at an early age, showed his artistic talent; The young Stuart’sability in drawing induced a Scotch artist,- Cosmo Alexander, to take onthe youth as a protege, and the two subsequently travelled to SouthCarolina and then to Scotland. Alexander’s death in Scotland stranded -
Stuart, who eventually managed to return to Rhode Island, wearing littlemore than rags. Nevertheless, Stuart immediately resumedpainting, -
hiring a blacksmith to pose for him. In spite of some success inattracting commissions, the artist wanted to go to England to study and inthe spring of 1775 he sailed from Boston.
Once in Great Britain, Stuart remained abroad for almost twenty years,where he achieved fame as a portrait painter. After arriving in England,Stuart was aided by an old Newport friend,- but within about four years hehad entered the studio of Benjamin West, the expatriate American painterand benefactor of young American artists who studied in London.Although Stuart lived with West for almostfour years, the young artistapparently, gained more from West’s important social contacts then fromany painting instruction by the older man. Whereas West delighted inmammoth historical subjects, which Stuart said West painted by the acre,Stuart concentrated on portraits. His portraits, moreover reflected hisown inherent skill and keenness, Stuart evidently being as uninfluenced byother artists of current note as he was by West.
If Stuart developed his own style, there is little doubt that Westtsbacking aided Stuart’s rise to a position of prominence as a portraitist
,Farm 1O.300a - UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE - -
July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island -
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC P LACES COUNTY -
- INVENTORY . NOMINATION FORMWashington
NATiOAr, gT;-joflrc. - FOR NPS USE ONLY
LANIML-,ptyj . ENTRY NUMBCR l’ATEConttnuatzonSheet
-
Number alt entries - - . -
8. Statement of Significance: 1 Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
in Great Britain. As a result, by 1782 Stuart enjoyed such a handsome
business, that he rented a luxurious home in London and lived in a lavishfashion. He painted very rapidly, and Sir Joshua Reynolds, JohnS.
- Copley, his old mentor West, and innumerable other prominent people sat--for him. An even more exact indication of Stuart’s success is that his -
price for a portrait quickly rose from five to thirty guineas.
Stuart’s zest for living equalled his artistic talent. Because of his
gay life in London, the painter by 1788 had acquired such debts that he.
had to move to Ireland in order to-escape imprisonment. As before, hepainted furiously, occasionally having six.sitters on a single day, andlived as he had in London. Within five years debt again forced a move,this time to America. -
Although Stuart’s financial straits influenced his return to America in
1792, the painter’s desire to paint George Washington also stimulated- Stuart to leave Ireland. Stuart was to paint three life portraits of -
Washington, the first of which was done in 1794. Although Stuart had -
never been overawed by any previous famous sitter, he apparently was by- Washington, and his first portrait of the general has a stiffness in it.
A full-length portrait then followed, but it was only with the "AthenaeumPortrait" of the .general that Stuart caught the inner spirit of -
Washington. Stuart never completed the painting, realizing that he couldnot improve on the spontaniety of the moment as Washington had sat before
him, and this portrait has become the most famous of all of the paintings
of Washington. Even in Stuart’s day the excellence of the painting wasappreciated, and Stuart, who always needed money, unabashedly made copy
after copy of it, referring to the copies as his "hundred-dollar bills."1Indeed, he produced so many copies that they came to be little more thansuperficial -renderings of the subject. - -
Stuart is just as interesting as a person as he is as an artist. He hada warm personality and a sharp mind. Proud and witty, he once retortedto Samuel Johson’s inquiry as to where he had learned to speak Englishso well by saying that it was not from Johnson’s dictionary; and when anactor fell asleep as he sat for Stuart, the incensed painter gave thesitter ass’s ears in the portrait. Primarily concerned with character ina sitter, Stuart once groaned about his art, "What a damned business isthat of portrait painter. You bring him a potato and expect he will
vaint Jou a peach."2 Stuart also hugely enjoyed talking, and following£ Quoted in James Thomas Flexner, Gilbert Stuart, A Great Life-in Brief
New York, 1955, p. 143. - -
2 Quoted in Eugen Neuhaus, The History and Ideals of American Art Stan- -
- ford, California, 1931, pp. 37-38. - - - -
continued
- Fon, 1O-300o UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE
- July 1969 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island -
-
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLAcES COUNTY -- -
- LNVENTORY . NOMINATION FORMWashington - -
NATIONAL HISTORIC. - FOR NPSUSE ONLY
LANDiaJRVS; Continuation SheetENTRY NUMOER DATE
Number all entriee -
8. Statement of Significance: 2 Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
a rare visit to church after moving to Boston in 1805 the painter remarked:tIt do not like the idea of a man getting up in a box and having all theconversation to himself. . .
. " After settling in Boston, Stuart continuedto paint almost until the day he died, July 9, 1828.
3 Quoted in Flexner, Stuart, p. 182.
p 1 QI.72&
-MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES - -- - - - - -- - : - -
Gilbert Stuart, Portraitist of the Young Republic, 1755-1828. Washington:National Gallery of Art, 1967. - -- -
Cahill, Holger, and Barr, Alfred H., Jr., Art in America. - -
Flexner, James Thomas, The Light of Distant Skies, 1760-1835. New York;1954.
Gilbert Stuart, A Great Life in Brief. New York, 1955. - -
Neuhaus, Eugen, The History and Ideas of American Art. Stanford, California,1931. - - - -
Tuckerman, Henry T., Book of the Artists. New York, 1867. -
EOGRAPHIcAL DATA - - :-:- - -:- :::y - - - ----..jLATITUDE ANO LONGITUDE COORDINATES I LiTITUPE ANC LONGI’IDE COORDINATES
DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PRODERTY 0 DEFINING Tf,. Lt.; rat. POIN OF A 7r.DPERTY
- ROF LESS THAN TEN ACRES
CORNER LATITUDE LONGITUDE LATITUDE LONGITUDE
Degree, Minules Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds Degrees Minutes Seconds- NW ° . 0 .
. UTN°l9 295960 459 17NE ° . . 0
SE ° . . 0 , . -
SW ° . . 0
APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: 2118 acres -
- LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES
- STATE: CODE COUNTY -
STATE: - CODE COUNTY:
STATE: CODE COUNTY:
STATE: CODE COUNTy:
i.-:FCRM-PREPAREO.By--- -:--
NAME AND TITLE: Blanche Higgins Schroer, Historian, Landmark Review Project;No Original Report
ORGANIZATION - DATE
Historic Sites Survey - Sept. 25. 1974STREET AND NUMBER: -
1100 L_Street,_NW,- CITY OR TOWN: - STATE CODE
Washington District of Columbia 11$TATE LIAISON OFFICER:CERTIF!CA1ION :.CNATlONAL REGISTER VERIFICATIPH - -
As the designated State Liaison Officer for the Na
tional Historic Preservation Act of 1966 Public Law
89.665, 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion
in the National Register and certify that it. has been
evaluated according to the c-lteria and proceclires set
forth by the National Park Service. The recommended
level of significance of this nomination is:
National 0 State Local 0
NATIONAL HISTORICName
Title
- NATIONAL HISTORICDate ___.LANIIMARKII
--
I hereby certify that this property is included in the
National Register.
!NATIGNAL }tTSfuI2L1J
!A1fDMPt - 1.cndic.rk
In
A *.-‘-:I-’
Director. Office of Archeology and H#efbno’Prenrvation
De
ATTEST: .jliC[. ICt.
-‘l.A - -
Keeper of
Date - -: ,L:...
‘3-luo
71
In
nl
rn
In
-4
C
n-I
0
t
* - Form No. 10.301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE -
Rev. 7.42 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island-
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HIStORIC PLACES- COUNTY - -
- t - Washington - -
- PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY
Type all entries - attach to or enc/osewith map - ENTRY NUMBER -__DATE
Z ENAME.-- ---.V-:-:
--- ,.. - - - -
o COMMON: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace - -
- AND/OR HISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
.tOcAfloN..;- :--:i! - -:...* . -T- - ..: -
STREET AND NUM BER:
U 815 Gilbert Stuart Road -
CITYOR TOWN: -
Saunderstown
}_STATE: * CODE COUNTY: CODE
- - Rhode Island 44 Washington 009.REFERENCE4: .- .*;::E:r_s..:.:>.J.c;:::f_
SOURCE:-
- Plat map from records of North Kingstown Town Hall -
SCALE: - 1 inch = 100 feetDATE: none -
EQ U IR EME NT SLI -
TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS - -
I. Property broundories where required.
- 2. North arrow.
3. Latitude and longitude reference.
- * U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1973-?29-I48/1441 3-I
Form No. 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR sra-rg -
Rev. 7-72 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island
- NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES COingtOn
PROP ERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY* - ENTRY NUMBER DATE
Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith map
t NAME...:.- .. : y -- :.-:+:- -- -- -_ - --
o - COMMON: Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceAND/OR HISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
$_LGCATIONSTREET AND NUM BER: -
815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: - -
Saunderstown- STATE: - CODE COUNTY: CODE
Rhode Is land 44 Washington [ 009RENCE:-; c.- : c-.Jcc- -;: -: c_ :.?...<_ ::-.:s_.!. - -
SOURCE: - -
U.S.G.S. 7.5’Series - - -
US ICALE: l24.000 -
DATE: 1957UIEREQUIREMENTS ./-.-.t>s$. .--cl &: - c-.: - -c -r -
TO SE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS
1. Property broundories whor, required. -
- - - ---
- : t7r’wj- -.
- - 1:
-
. - - - -
_____________ ____-
Form No. lO-3Ola- - 7/72
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORNATIONAL PARK SERVICE
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM -
Type all entries - attach to or enclosewith photograph
STATE
Rhode Is landCOUNTY
WashingtonFOR NPS USE ONLY
ENTRY NUMBER DATE
L--:NAME -: :..:-;:-c::.;:_.-:_--:-c-. :r:.-.- cc-Mc-- c:cc.::ccx
COMMON: Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceAND/OR HISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
LiJ.OCATIONSTREET AND NUMBER:
815 Gilbert Stuart Road -
CITY OR TOWN:
Saunderstown -
STATE: - CODE COUNTY: - CODE
Rhode Island 44 Washington - -- 009
:cT:cc_
-c-.i:-__ccc-c-c-- c c.cc:c
HOTO CREDIT: Blanche Higgins Schroer. NPS
- -- - - ---
j4. I
ATEOFPHOT August 1974IECATIVE FILED AT:Historic Sites Survey, National Park Service, Washington,D.C.
QENTIFICATION - - - - - - - - - -
DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC
Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceSouth facade
* U,S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: :973-729-I52/I446 DI - I
ICQUN TV:
- Washing0 - ---- NOTO REFERENCE:...
-:-
-: - - - - -+tOTO CREDIT2 Blanche Higgins Schroer, NPSATEDFPHOTO: August1974IEGATIVEFILEDAiStOr
Sites Survey, National Park Senice.washington D.C.
Fqrm No. 10.3Db UNITED StATES DEPARTMENT OP THE INTERIOR STATE -
7/72 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Rhode Island
- - - - NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACESCOUNfl
PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH F.-ORM - - FORNPS USE ONLY
Type all entries, attach to or enclosewith photographENTRY NUMBER DATE
1-NAMEr - :c -..cy p-crcc- r---c.1-: r- c-c - :-.-: :-cc-, :- -: :rc..-:.cr .:-:-:-- :y-.cn:-
COMMON: Gilbert Stuart BirthplaceAND/OR hISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace -
[a_LOCATIONSTREET AND NUMBER: - -
815 Gilbert Stuart RoadCITY OR TOWN: -
Saunderstown - -
STATE: - CODE COUNTY: CODE
Rhode Island 44 Washington 009EPHOTO REFERENCE -
‘HOTO CREDIT: National Park Service-
DATE OF PHOTO: 19644EGATIVE FILED AT: - -
I0ENTIFICATIOt’.DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. -
South facade, Stuart Birthplace
* Its GOVERNMENT PR:NT:NG OFFICE: 973-729-I 2/ :446 [II - I
________
- - - -
rm No. 10-3Db UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STATE - I -
72 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE- Rhode Island
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORtC PLACESCOUNTY -
- WashingtonPROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM - - FOR NP$ USE ONLY
Type all entries - attach to or enclose with photographENTRY NUMBER
JDATE -
NAME - - - - -
frOMMOW. Gilbert Stuart BirthplacelAND/OR HISTORIC: Gilbert Stuart Birthplace
L0CATION - - - - - - . - - - - -
STREET AND NUMBER:
815 Gilbert Stuart Road - -
CITY OR TOWN: - -
Saunderstown - - -
STATE: CODE COUNTY: CODE
Rhode Is land 44 Washington 009EPHOTO REFERENCE
I1OTO CREDIT: Blanche Higgins Schroer. NPSDATE OF PHOTO: August 1974IIEGATIVE PILED AT:Historjc Sites Survey, National Park Service, Washington,D.C. -- -
____________________________
-.c:.::_:::_c. ::::_: cc: ::c_c-:cc _:-:-::c-:-::/-::--.::::--H---__. : -_ -
DESCRIBE VIEW. DIRECTION. ETC. - -
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace - -
South facade