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Gilbert Stuart

A curious discovery on the Florida seashore, when a water cannon destroyed a suspicious package later found to contain miniature portraits by the celebrated American painter Gilbert Stuart

Painter to the Federalist aristocracy, Stuart created likenesses of leading citizens with great brilliance and exactitude.

The face is familiar. Every American has scanned it a thousand times; it passes from hand to hand in millions of ordinary business transactions every day of the year.

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