From Thomas Jefferson to Gilbert Stuart, 18 June 1805
To Gilbert Stuart
June 18. 05.
Th: Jefferson pr[esents his compliments to Mr. Stewart,] and begs leave to send [him the inclosed for the trouble he gave him] in taking the head á [la antique. Mr. Stewart seemed to contemplate] having an engraving m[ade either from that or the first portrait;] he is free to use the one [or the other at his choice; the one not pro]posed to be used Th:J. [will be glad to receive at Mr. Stewart’s con]venience; the other wh[en he shall be done with it.]
RC (NNMus); incomplete, consisting of left half of page only, including date, with text in brackets supplied from Charles Henry Hart, “Life Portraits of Thomas Jefferson,” McClure’s Magazine, 11 (1898), 48. Recorded in SJL at 17 June.
the inclosed: according to TJ’s financial records, on 18 June he paid Gilbert Stuart “for drawing my portrait 100. D.” (, 2:1156).
taking the head: the “Medallion Portrait” (see illustration in this volume). TJ sat for the first portrait by Stuart in May 1800 (Vol. 31:xliv-xlv).