American Artists

Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) is featured on the 1-cent Famous American Artists stamp issued September 5, 1940. Following the early success of his painting "The Skater," Stuart established a studio in Philadelphia, where he created numerous portraits of the nation’s Founding Fathers. He is best known for his portraits of George Washington, including the iconic "Athenaeum Head" that appears on the dollar bill. Dolley Madison rescued his famous White House portrait of Washington when the British burned the White House during the War of 1812.

Gordon T. Trotter

The 2-cent Famous American Artists stamp issued September 5, 1940, features James A. McNeill Whistler (1834-1903). Surely Whistler's most famous painting is "Arrangement in Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother," familiarly known as "Whistler's Mother." This painting was the subject of the Mothers of America stamp of 1934. Whistler's style was subtle, often producing what he called 'arrangements' or 'nocturnes' in just two colors. Better known works include "At the Piano," "Symphony in White, No.1: The White Girl," and his principal effort in decorative art, "Peacock Room."

The 3-cent Famous American Artists stamp issued September 16, 1940, pictures Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). Saint-Gaudens created a wide range of sculptures, mainly in bronze. His monumental statues of famous figures, including Lincoln, Sherman, and Farragut, grace many American parks today. Outstanding among other works is his statue of a mourner in Washington's Rock Creek Cemetery.

Daniel Chester French (1850-1931) appears on the 5-cent Famous American Artists stamp issued September 16, 1940. Working predominantly in bronze or marble, sculptor French created many memorials, allegories, and architectural embellishments. His most famous works are his first commission, "The Minute Man", which stands near the bridge at Concord, Massachusetts, and the massive seated Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in the District of Columbia.

Frederic Remington (1861-1908) appears on the 10-cent Famous American Artists stamp issued September 30, 1940. A painter, illustrator, sculptor, and writer, Remington devoted his various talents to describing the American West. He traveled extensively in the West, gathering stories, photographs, and memorabilia to use as a basis for his works. He was best known in his own time through his magazine illustrations, which depicted the West in stark realism.