Stuart | George S. Stuart Historical Figures®

George Stuart – 1929-2025

MVC mourns the loss of Curator Emeritus, George S. Stuart. In 1952, George Stuart created his first two Historical Figures, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. He fanned that initial creative spark into a life-long passion for making three-dimensional portraits. For over 70 years, Stuart captured the essence of history’s most famous personalities in his lifelike Figures.

The partnership between the Ojai-based artist and the Museum of Ventura County began in 1979 when Stuart gifted his collection and began performing monologues at the Museum. Especially fond of historical tales about power and scandal, his performances enchanted Ventura County audiences. His wit, dedication, and creativity will be greatly missed by all of those lucky enough to know him or hear his monologues.

Artist, Historian, Entertainer

For over five decades, the late artist and historian George Stuart created more than 400 one-quarter life-size figures, some have been exhibited in the Smithsonian and private collections, to accompany his historical monologues. He captured 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.

Internationally renowned for their exquisite detail and historical accuracy, the George Stuart Historical Figures® represent important personalities of many historical periods.

George Stuart also created groups of figures that illustrate French, English, Russian, Chinese, and Italian history, as well as other conquests of the Americas.

For a book and DVDs on the George Stuart Historical Figures® and monologues, go to our Museum Store located at the Museum. Books, magazines and video are also available on Etsy.

Entertaining Historical 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. Many of his monologues are now available on YouTube.

The Studio

In his Ojai, California studio Mr. Stuart continued to model Historical Figures in mixed media. At quarter life size, his portraits are closer to figurative art are often mistakenly called miniatures, figurines – or worse, dolls. Mr. Stuart was also very active in preservation and restoration of existing Figures.

Modeling a Historical Figure

Research

Once a subject was selected for an Historical Figure, George Stuart carefully studied the personality, contemporary texts, paintings drawings, anatomy references, even autopsy reports.

Planning

With the Historical Figure and its times understood, Stuart sketched how to best represent the Figure - clothing, position and demeanor. Accessories such as jewels, and weapons are selected and designed.

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.

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.