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Artist, Historian, Entertainer For more than fifty years George S. Stuart has been capturing the essence of history's most famous and infamous personalities. Rarely have art and history been melded so exactly in works of such breathtaking realism. To date, he has created more than four hundred Historical Figures have been exhibited in the Smithsonian and private collections. For more about Mr. Stuart and the Historical Figures, see the book and tape in the Store . |
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Monologs Viewing a Group of Historical Figures gains special significance when accompanied by Mr. Stuart's informative, entertaining monologs about the personages and their times. Mr. Stuart presents monologs several times each month at the Ventura County Museum and other venues. |
The Studio In his Ojai, California studio Mr. Stuart continues to model Historical Figures. He is also very active in preservation and restoration of existing Figures |
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Modeling a Historical Figure
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Research Once a subject is selected for an Historical Figure, George Stuart carefully studies the personality, contemporary texts, paintings drawings, anatomy references, even autopsy reports. Planning With the Historical Figure and its times understood, Stuart sketches how to best represent the Figure – clothing, position and demeanor. Accessories such as jewels, and weapons are selected and designed. |
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Skeleton Figures are made of mixed media. Modeling begins with an articulated skeleton of iron wire sized to the best anatomical data. Heights can vary from Queen Victoria less than 5 feet tall to Abe Lincoln at nearly 6 ½ ft. Bones and Muscle The wire skeleton is carefully wrapped in clay tape to form bones. Cotton is added and modeled to form the muscles and shape. Next a “skin” is sewn of felt and the Figure is covered. |
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Skin Next a “skin” is sewn of felt and the Figure is covered. Muscles are articulated with needle and thread. Hands The hands are carefully sized and shaped in wire, often to hold objects or to portray a gesture. The final hands and feet are then sculpted in modeling material. |
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Head A preformed plastic skull is shaped to the anatomy of the Figure. Then clay is modeled in several steps that results in the likeness of the Figure. Hair and Scalp Hair and scalp of Icelandic sheepskin is carefully modeled and applied. The hair is colored and modeled to the Figure's likeness. |
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Assembly and Make Up The body parts are assembled; the head and hands are carefully painted and colored. Undergarments are added in accordance with the times. |
Clothing and Accessories Finally outer garments, shoes, jewelry, weapons, accessories, etc. are set. The Figure is attached to a base. |
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Images © copyright 2006 Peter d'Aprix
Graphic design by Leroy Becker
Programming by Mary Harrsch
