In this photograph, Jane Stuart portrays Cinderella’s “Proud Sister” at a costume party. These gatherings, often highlighted by Jane’s “wit and ingenuity,” helped to allay wintertime boredom in Newport. Newport Historical Society, P1792.
One of the more colorful people in 19th century Newport was Jane Stuart (1812-1888), portraitist and youngest daughter of artist Gilbert Stuart. With limited means in Boston, Jane supported herself by completing her father’s unfinished portraits while studying art under her brother Charles and other instructors. She became a lively and prolific contributor to American art; the Newport Historical Society holds 12 of her paintings in their permanent collection. She moved to Newport in 1862 and permanently settled at 86 Mill Street. In her obituary, the Newport Mercury reported that she was “a woman of brilliant wit, quaint powers of satire, with a rare knowledge of the world,” (5 May 1888).