A man with pale skin, wearing a black suit and hat, glides toward us on ice skates in this vertical portrait painting. The man’s body faces us but he turns his head to our right as he looks slightly down and off into the distance. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he balances on his right skate, the other toe pushing him forward. His gray hair is pulled back under his wide-brimmed hat, which may have a buckle or other ornament at the front center of the crown. A curl along his left cheek escapes and is lifted by the breeze. He has dark eyes, a straight nose, his wide mouth is closed,…
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The Skater (Portrait of William Grant)

painter Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755 - 1828)

1782

Medium
oil on canvas
Classification
Painting
Dimensions
overall: 245.5 x 147.4 cm (96 5/8 x 58 1/16 in.) ; framed: 274.3 x 177.2 x 9.5 cm (108 x 69 3/4 x 3 3/4 in.)
Culture
American
Museum
National Gallery of Art, CAB
Credit line
Andrew W. Mellon Collection
Rights
Public domain (NGA Open Access, CC0), as the museum states it.
Who can see it
Tweens profiles and older: its subjects are known and suit older children. How works are placed

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