John TrumbullWho Was John Trunbull?
John Trumbull landed in the history books about the same time as many other well knowns, such as, George Washignton, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and many more. Although virtually everyone knows well the latter characters and their contributions to American Independence, little is known about John Trumbull, the painter who captured it all. Birth: John Trumbull was born June 6th, 1756 in Lebanon, Connecticut. His parents, father, Jonathan Trumbull was governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784 and wife Faith Robinson Trumbull. Childhood: Not much is known about the childhood of John Trumbull. When he was very little, Trumbull was involved in a horrendous accident and lost the complete use of one eye. It has been said that this disasbility may have infleunced him and driven him to provide works of art with exceptional detail. In 1771, at just 15 years of age he entered into the Junior Class at Harvard University. |
Studies: In 1773 John Trumbull graduated from Harvard and enlisted. During the American Revolutionary War, Trumbull served under George Washington as his second & personal aid and in 1776 he was appinted adjutant-general to General Horatio Gates. Throughout his service, Trumbull rendered many works of battles, British efforts, and most notably the Battle of Bunker Hill, Lord Cornwallis surrender, and much more. He had a great attention to detail, found in every piece of work he did. In 1777, Trumbull resigned from the service.
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Later in 1780 Trumbull traveled to London to study under Benjamin West. During his studies, and at the request of West, Trumbull painted many small picyures of the War of Independence.
On September 23, 1780, a British agent named John Andre was captured in America and quickly hanged as a spy, nine days later. Trumbull, upon news of Andre's hanging reaching London was apprehended and imprisoned for several months in London's natorious Tothill Fields Bridewell. |
Life: Throughout much of his life, Trumbull traveled and painted many works of the Revolutionary War, including one of his most famous Declaration of Independence, which he worked closely with Thomas Jefferson who provided much of the details. Trumbull painted many aspects of the Revolutionary War, including the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, which he sketched for a couple of French Officers, while visiting Paris.
Death and Legacy: John Trumbull died on November 10, 1843, in New York City, he was 87 years of age. He left behind hundreds of works of art, most of which were stationed at Yale University.
Did you know: You may have one of his greatest and most distributed works of art right now in your pocket or home safe. On the reverse side of The U.S Two-dollar bill is John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence.
Did you know: You may have one of his greatest and most distributed works of art right now in your pocket or home safe. On the reverse side of The U.S Two-dollar bill is John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence.
The two-dollar bill above and the original below show the builders of the nation Declaration of Independence.
Some other great works by John Trumbull!
"General George Washington at Trenton," 1792. Oil on canvas, by the American
artist John Trumbull. Courtesy of the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Gift of the Society of Cincinnati in Connecticut.
John Trumbull greatly admired George Washington and painted him several times. He often portrayed Washington as larger than life, yet grounded. In the painting "General George Washington at Trenton," we see a tall and powerful looking General standing in front of either his horse Nelson or Blueskin.
Notice how even George Washington's horses are portrayed by Trumbull as wild or unbridled. A handful for any soldier! If you look beneath the white horse you will see rubble and cannons destroyed and laid to ruin, further evidence of Trumbull's admiration, and who is to argue!
George Washington shown with great presence, but out done only by the skill of a true artist who captured the General as people saw him then and as people see him today!
artist John Trumbull. Courtesy of the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale University, New Haven, Conn. Gift of the Society of Cincinnati in Connecticut.
John Trumbull greatly admired George Washington and painted him several times. He often portrayed Washington as larger than life, yet grounded. In the painting "General George Washington at Trenton," we see a tall and powerful looking General standing in front of either his horse Nelson or Blueskin.
Notice how even George Washington's horses are portrayed by Trumbull as wild or unbridled. A handful for any soldier! If you look beneath the white horse you will see rubble and cannons destroyed and laid to ruin, further evidence of Trumbull's admiration, and who is to argue!
George Washington shown with great presence, but out done only by the skill of a true artist who captured the General as people saw him then and as people see him today!
The painting below illustrates "George Washington's Resignation," and a profound statement to liberty. At the close of the Revolution General Washington had earned great respect among the people, his men, and the other founders of our Republic. He had spent most of his personal fortune fighting the British, but he amassed a wealth of respect, honor, appreciation, and trust. A wealth he could have coveted to maintain his power, even the King of England thought he would do so. Yet on December 23, 1783 at the Maryland State House in Annapolis he resigned his commission as Commander in Chief and paved the way for civilian and not military rule.
References and External Links
It is believed that all works by John Trumbull are Public Domain. All images on this page were acquired through multiple resources and had a minimum of two sources that verify public domain. The educational portion of this website is paid for by The Prepper Hitching Post and Common Sense Prepper Network. No images used for educational purposes are exploited for monetary gain. Feel free to use the images and information as you see fit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Trumbull
Weir, J.F. (1901). John Trumbull, A Brief Sketch of His Life, to which is added a Catalogue of his Works. New York: C. Scribner's sons. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
The Winterthur Library; The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera http://findingaid.winterthur.org/html/HTML_Finding_Aids/COL0391.htm
It is believed that all works by John Trumbull are Public Domain. All images on this page were acquired through multiple resources and had a minimum of two sources that verify public domain. The educational portion of this website is paid for by The Prepper Hitching Post and Common Sense Prepper Network. No images used for educational purposes are exploited for monetary gain. Feel free to use the images and information as you see fit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Trumbull
Weir, J.F. (1901). John Trumbull, A Brief Sketch of His Life, to which is added a Catalogue of his Works. New York: C. Scribner's sons. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
The Winterthur Library; The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera http://findingaid.winterthur.org/html/HTML_Finding_Aids/COL0391.htm