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HAMILTON, Alexander (1755-1804), American Founder. Autograph letter signed ("A. Hamilton") to unidentified, Philadelphia, 10 April 1793. 1 page, 4to.
HAMILTON LAUDS A PROMISING YOUNG PAINTER--AND GILBERT STUART "FORGER" WILLIAM WINSTANLEY. In a letter that draws together Hamilton, John Jay and Martha Washington, the first Treasury Secretary writes: "Mr. Winstanly brought me a letter of Introduction from Chief Justice Jay, stating him to be a Young Gentleman from England, who, without having made it a profession, has made some promising essays in Landscape Painting. There are two views of situations on Hudson's River painted by Mr. Winstanly, in the drawing Room of Mrs. Washington, which have great intrinsic merit - and considered with reference to his opportunities, as related, announce a very superior genius in the branch of painting, worthy of encouragement." In addition to painting Hudson Valley scenes, Winstanley also copied several Gilbert Stuart portraits of Washington, and according to one story sought Stuart's estimation of the work, only to be angrily rebuffed. It's a plausible scenario: notions of strict intellectual and artistic proprietorship had not yet taken root in 18th century society, and Winstanley's emulation may have been done with (to him) benign motives.
HAMILTON LAUDS A PROMISING YOUNG PAINTER--AND GILBERT STUART "FORGER" WILLIAM WINSTANLEY. In a letter that draws together Hamilton, John Jay and Martha Washington, the first Treasury Secretary writes: "Mr. Winstanly brought me a letter of Introduction from Chief Justice Jay, stating him to be a Young Gentleman from England, who, without having made it a profession, has made some promising essays in Landscape Painting. There are two views of situations on Hudson's River painted by Mr. Winstanly, in the drawing Room of Mrs. Washington, which have great intrinsic merit - and considered with reference to his opportunities, as related, announce a very superior genius in the branch of painting, worthy of encouragement." In addition to painting Hudson Valley scenes, Winstanley also copied several Gilbert Stuart portraits of Washington, and according to one story sought Stuart's estimation of the work, only to be angrily rebuffed. It's a plausible scenario: notions of strict intellectual and artistic proprietorship had not yet taken root in 18th century society, and Winstanley's emulation may have been done with (to him) benign motives.