United States Paper Money Collection United States Paper Money Collection
The engraving of Thomas Jefferson on $2 small-size notes is based on the Gilbert Stuart painting of Thomas Jefferson. It was engraved by Charles Burt in 1867.
For years, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) attempted to obtain his portrait from Stuart. He sat for Stuart twice: first in 1800 and again in 1805. In 1820, Jefferson appealed to Henry Dearborn to help him with Stuart: "I shall be perfectly content to receive the original . . . which was of the common size (what the painters call, I believe, a bust) it will suit me better than a half-length, as it will range better in line of my other portraits." Stuart obliged by painting this replica of his 1805 life portrait. The compelling image of the third president was altogether persuasive as the life portrait, even to Jefferson himself; only Jefferson's daughter noticed that upon delivery in 1821 the paint was still fresh.