A Letter From The Publisher: Sep. 21, 1962

GILBERT STUART once said, in a wry comment on the grand work of his mentor, Benjamin West, that ";no one would paint history who could do a portrait." Stuart went on from there to produce a great and unique visual record of American history expressed in portraits. This week's cover of President James Monroe is part of that record.* President Monroe sat for Stuart in Boston early in July 1817, four months after he had taken office in his first term, and while he was on a trip inspecting military installations. The Essex Register...

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