George S. Stuart

As a young boy, Stuart traveled to Europe and became increasingly interested in historical architecture. In his teens, he constructed a scale model of the French Palace of VersaillesDavid Kelly, "Fascinated by figurines". Los Angeles Times, as reprinted in the Montreal Gazette, September 10, 2001: E5. and began to experiment with the human form after receiving an articulated marionette as a gift. Illness deterred him for a time, but he persisted and enrolled in first Georgetown University then the American University in Washington, D.C. where he studied history, economics, languages and international law to prepare to become a Foreign Service Officer. But his academic career was frustrated by dyslexia, a condition not recognized in those days.{{cite journal |last1=Davis |first1=Ivor |title=Making History |journal=Ventana Monthly |date=October 2009 |pages=32–35}}

Then, in the early 1950s, he was offered a position at the Smithsonian Institution, where he sculpted figures of inventors to accompany patent models exhibited there. As a member of the Smithsonian staff, he also participated in the development of the Presidents' Wives exhibit.

After Stuart completed a degree in Fine Arts at the University of California in Santa Barbara, where he found himself drawn to theater arts,{{cite journal |last1=Robertson |first1=Carmen |title=Historical Figures One Man's Passion |journal=The Gold Book |pages=154–161}} he began touring the country performing historical monologues accompanied by eight to twelve of his figures.{{cite journal |last1=Seiden |first1=Ellen |title=Three Dimensional Portrait Humanize History: George Stuart Historical Figures |journal=Renaissance Magazine |date=October 2009 |volume=12 #5 |issue=57 |pages=30–31}} He was represented by the Samuel Horton Brown Agency in Beverly Hills, joining the firm's other clients including Margaret Meade.{{cite journal |last1=Coyner |first1=Barbara |title=A Man of Many Faces |journal=Art of the West |date=November–December 1997 |issue=10th Anniversary |pages=78–82}} Focusing on power and political intrigue, Stuart developed over 20 programs using his historical figures as visual aids.{{cite journal |last1=Kidder |first1=Fred |title=Old Shop: George Stuart |journal=Figure International |date=September 2002}}

When Stuart moved to Ojai, California in 1959, he opened The Gallery of Historical Figures and began teaching workshops on figural construction, costuming and sculpting faces. In 1991, the city of Ojai presented Stuart with its Lifetime Achievement in the Arts award. He also has been recognized by the United States Congress.

Each historical figure begins with a jointed iron wire skeleton in quarter scale that is designed to move like the treasured marionette from Stuart's childhood. The head is modeled separately, beginning with a skull structure built up with clay then molded in plastic. The facial features are defined using a jeweler's loup and fine instruments. Blown glass eyes are then inserted from the inside. The body is then built up with papier maché, cotton fiber, and styrofoam enclosed with wool felt skin. After he chooses an appropriate pose, the figure is then finished with a custom plastique that Stuart developed himself after years of experimentation to achieve the look of life-like skin.{{cite journal |last1=Coyner |first1=Barbara |title=A Man of Many Faces |journal=Art of the West |date=November–December 1997 |issue=10th Anniversary |pages=78–82}}

He has created more than 400 "Historical Figures" in groups to complement his performances.{{Cite web|title =The Art & Imagination of George Stuart|url = http://www.galleryhistoricalfigures.com/stuart|website = www.galleryhistoricalfigures.com|access-date = 2016-02-24}} The groups include, American Revolutionary and Civil Wars (Samuel Adams to Abraham Lincoln), English Monarchies (Henry VII to Edward VII), Bourbon Dynasty (Henry IV to Charles X), Czarist Russia and the Soviet Union (Ivan IV to Joseph Stalin), Manchu Dynasty (Nurhaci to Mao Tse-tung), Renaissance & Reformation (various rulers and clergy), Conquest of the Americas (Columbus to John Fremont), Really Awful People (including Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Attila the Hun, Vlad the Impaler, Nero, Ivan the Terrible, and the Borgias), Warriors of the Ages, Germanic Myth & Legend (northern pantheon), and his earliest works.

One of his most popular presentations focused on history's "Really Awful People" group.

"The story begins with a massacre and ends with a slaughter," Stuart observed. "In between we have murder, rape, sex violence, intrigue and political chicanery."

File:AbrahamLincolncirca1832byGeorgeSStuart.jpg

Stuart reported his most popular figurines are those of Lincoln. He produced five different versions of Lincoln from his early years to his appearance at the time of the 16th president's assassination. His figures from the American Revolutionary and Civil War periods were featured in the exhibit "Revolution and Rebellion: Wars, Words and Figures." at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library in September, 2011.{{cite journal |title=Revolution and Rebellion: Wars, Words and Figures. |journal=Sons of the American Revolution Magazine |date=September 2011 |volume=105 |issue=3 |pages=14–15}}

Stuart's quest for historical accuracy led him to import specially-scaled chain mail, embroidered silks,{{cite journal |last1=Golden |first1=Alan |title=Welcome to the world of George S. Stuart |journal=Toy Soldier Magazine |date=October 2010 |issue=149 |pages=20–26}} and Icelandic sheepskin for life-like hair. Stuart fabricated historically accurate metal helmets, armor, weapons, crowns, and accessories.

More than 200 of Stuart's Historical Figures now reside in the permanent collections of the Museum of Ventura County where a special gallery was constructed for their display. Other figures are in the collections of the Naples Museum of Art in Naples, Florida. Temporary exhibits have been held at the Pasadena Museum of History, the Ojai Valley Museum of History and Art, the Oxnard Library, California State University, and the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.

File:ComancheWarriorbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Comanche Warrior

File:James I BestLo.jpg|James I

File:MarqsPompadour reclg Best.jpg|Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Madame de Pompadour

File:JChurchillDukeMarl BestLo.jpg|John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough

File:NormanKnight Best.jpg|Norman Knight

File:Louis XIV Eq Best.jpg|French King Louis XIV

File:George III Robes BestLo.jpg|King George III in Robes of State

File:GillesdeRetz Best.jpg|Gilles de Retz

File:AztecLeopardWarriorv2byGeorgeSStuartt.jpg|Aztec Leopard Warrior

File:BorisGodunovbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Tsar Boris Godunov

File:ChineseEmperorChienLungbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Chinese Emperor Chien Lung

File:Charles II v2 BestLo.jpg|King Charles II

File:ZuluWarrior BestLo.jpg|Zulu Warrior

File:SirJohnBurgoyne BestLo.jpg|Sir John Burgoyne

File:AbrahamLincolncirca1863byGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Abraham Lincoln

File:AlexanderHamiltonbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Alexander Hamilton

File:CesareBorgiabyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Cesare Borgia

File:AlexanderIINikolaevitchbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Alexander II Nikolaevitch

File:ChumashFamilybyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Chumash Family

File:GastonD'Orleans Best.jpg|Gaston D'Orleans

File:USGrantbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|General Ulysses S. Grant

File:TsarNicholasIIRomanovandTsarevichAlexeiNikolaevichRomanovofRussiabyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Tsar Nicholas II Romanov and Tsarevich Alexei

File:POrleans Regent Best.jpg|Regent Philippe d'Orleans

File:MarieAnt children Best.jpg|Queen Marie Antoinette with her children

File:Louis XVI 1780seat Best.jpg|King Louis XVI in 1780

File:Louis XV 1745 Best.jpg|King Louis XV in 1745

File:EmpressCatherineIIinrobesofstatebyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Empress Catherine II of Russia

File:EmpressAnnaIvanovnabyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Russian Empress Anna Ivanova

File:Henry VIII v2 BestLo.jpg|King Henry VIII

File:ChineseBannerManbyGeorgeSStuart.jpg|Chinese Bannerman

{{Commons category|George S. Stuart Gallery of Historical Figures}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book

| surname1=Green | given1=Lee

| year=2004

| title=George Stuart's Historical Figures

| publisher=Ventura County Museum of History and Art

| isbn=0-9729361-2-2

}}

• {{Cite journal

| surname1=Kettmann | given1=Kevin

| year=2004

| title=The Art of History, The Fascinating Figurines of George Stuart

| journal= Ventura Magazine

| issue=Fall

}}

• [http://www.galleryhistoricalfigures.com/The Historical Figures of George Stuart (official website)].
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPyS0W9QFE0 Introducing George Stuart and his Historical Figures (video)].

{{colbegin}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AtzzW1nzX8 Prince Albert]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOF2yGQIRpU Prince Albert Victor]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWR9_keoAvw&t=2s Alexandra Princess of Wales 1]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bTqplwB6M Alexandra Princess of Wales 2]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaCGaUJxQJw Queen Anne]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgSQ_ofaA1I Beau Brummel]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFpj2PvkYHI Anne Boleyn]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T58Rf1WhhI0 Bonnie Prince Charlie]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhjLW9nvsQg Benjamin Disraeli]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PiqmVm6jk4 Cardinal Woolsey]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZHGkLuoX6I Caroline von Anspach]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xmkMgEMrrQ Caroline Von Brunswick]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R69pOS3Am2I Catherine of Aragon]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zAMZA2xXHM King Charles I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPx4KEn9kno King Charles II]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4qGxsemzwc Queen Charlotte Sophia]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcWlimMRuOs Countess of Darlington]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o975J17l-c King Edward VI]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyw2Q0Od9_0 Edward Prince of Wales]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy33ra-8lPQ Queen Elizabeth I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKYxQKiSVzU Earl of Essex]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKeoeWxxHSQ Florence Nightingale]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d4_lvq9K4Q King George I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxDgaqLIprU King George II]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eiEdLARi0s King George III in robes of state]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hko7g137NkY King George III circa 1780]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVFSiRzQEaw King George III circa 1818]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGA7-1a4q-E King George IV]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkH6qhIldk0 George Villiers Duke of Buckingham]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhhefKWYWQ0 Queen Henrietta Maria]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht-eTSMU_fI King Henry VII]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5f4myAIpY8&t=4s King Henry VIII]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgN5umaqJDk Sir Henry Clinton]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hHJA-Z6yLQ Jack the Ripper]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AorWq5MoSmY King James I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qyc9x3wvBg King James II]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b37_51PHNvI John Brown]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL4gZpscRQE&t=7s Sir John Burgoyne]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJcvG_QWkPg John Churchill Duke of Marlborough]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw5i1C5p7jI John Knox]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oc--uTertU Duchess of Kendal]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVeSiqrkISA Maria Fitzherbert]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNEitQPLmZs Mary Stuart]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E3GUlf755c Mary Tudor]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9e39Uo-QsM Nell Gwynne]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Nd5MYwkkE Oliver Cromwell]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44vmts11eOo Oscar Wilde]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qDAwysD8tc Sarah Churchill Duchess of Marlborough]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzqAAg-PA2w Queen Victoria circa 1837]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN_t_PKyh2I Queen Victoria circa 1860]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AAbKj1X4Zg Queen Victoria circa 1900]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P7rOGvTimo King William III]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiWUTQtGmPw William Gladstone]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDLsVZs5SKc Sir William Cecil-Burleigh]

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65MQ1e0e9I Tsar Alexander I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCcTwwQ-Tj8 Tsar Alexander II]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ito0u-ft01s Tsar Alexander III]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Akd7AsvlUo Empress Alexandra Fedorovna]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjXk-hKQK3o Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVwhfhD8KwQ Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGVYQTHdPKE Tsarevich Alexis Petrovich]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfZcS3viauI Anastasia Romanova]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaI1vLyAiJc Empress Anna Ivanova]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKlzrMU2YBs Boris Godunov]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgKFEiovCB8 Empress Catherine I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wm14yGmEE0 Empress Catherine II]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtU_319SIQA Empress Catherine II in robes of state]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g3Fo748QgY Empress Elizabeth I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVSSdV9Nl28 Eudoxia Lopukhina]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeCgA5E8fxw Gregory Rasputin]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVrvX43RMTo Prince Grigory Potemkin]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhQmhtDAy0 Tsar Ivan IV The Terrible]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8TZX-55BtM Tsar Ivan V]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v949zy4aDgo Joseph Stalin]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHayN1BE4fU Baroness Krudener]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ2UGJX-L3M Empress Marie Feodorovna]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njlKucL3Kd0 Tsar Michael Romanov]
• [*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHayN1BE4fU Baroness Krudener] Natalia Narishkina]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOQyDhxnjCo Tsar Nicholas I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhy1Cf-zKEA Tsar Nicholas II]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AngA2VOxsv4 Patriarch Nikon]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELdcjFene9I Paul I]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCfR7G68vaM Tsar Peter The Great]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bODiMAl6G0 Tsar Peter III]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yA3BcTCazs Patriarch Philaret]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51BHsGYqZxQ Tsarevna Sophia Alekseyevna]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAhLQc129QM Russian Serfs Liberation]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gazc9I3Lp1A Stenka Razin]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_rq3EPNgOg Vladimir Lenin]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2roTdkua0u0 Yemelyan Pugachev]

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyRTFj1RWYo The Despicable Borgias]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBXA6irz0hw Diamonds are Forever Pt 1]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc_-6nqDZrk Diamonds are Forever Pt 2]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQOlXwXg-A The Nordic Gods Pt 1 The Sagas]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avvwkL18voo The Nordic Gods Pt 2 Thor and Freya]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to9VqLha_PM The Nordic Gods Pt 3 The Saga of Siegfried]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q15YqYxy6Y The Nordic Gods Pt 4 Ragnarok]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpa3UdR3Vm4 Zulu Warrior]

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Category:1929 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American sculptors

Category:Georgetown University alumni

Category:American University alumni

Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni

Category:21st-century American sculptors