The Painter and the President: Gilbert Stuart's Brush with George Washington

K-Gr 4--George Washington did not like to sit still. Fortunately, portrait painter Gilbert Stuart didn't need him to. In fact, Stuart would joke and tell stories and let his subjects walk around the room, and even invite family and friends to join them. Washington's stern expression and pinched mouth (due to his infamous ill-fitting false teeth), for example, went from "glum to glad" when Stuart realized he loved to talk about horses. Stuart painted portraits of many luminaries (lords and ladies, admirals and artists, diplomats and dignitaries), but by far the most famous one was of Washington, which became the basis for the engraving used on the dollar bill. Expressive language and delightful acrylic, pencil, and digital illustrations, which include images from actual portraits, combine to make a lively and interesting biography of a painter and a glimpse into a little-known event in the life of the first president. The book includes a time line, information on Washington's dental woes, an explanation of why the image on the dollar bill is reversed from the original portrait, a bibliography, and source notes. VERDICT Pair this with a traditional biography of Washington for a refreshing look into the legacy of both the president and the painter. Highly recommended.--Sue Morgan

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