John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist during the period of the
American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
famous for his historical paintings including his
Declaration of IndependenceJohn Trumbull's Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting in the United States Capitol Rotunda that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress...
, which appears on the reverse of the
two-dollar billThe United States two-dollar bill is a current denomination of U.S. currency. Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson is featured on the obverse of the note. The design on the obverse is the oldest design of current U.S. currency, having been adopted in 1929.The reverse is the second oldest...
.
Trumbull was born in
Lebanon, ConnecticutLebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
, to
Jonathan TrumbullJonathan Trumbull, Sr. was one of the few Americans who served as governor in both a pre-Revolutionary colony and a post-Revolutionary state...
, who was Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784. He entered the 1771 junior class at
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and currently comprises ten separate academic units...
at age fifteen and graduated in 1773.
John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
artist during the period of the
American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
famous for his historical paintings including his
Declaration of IndependenceJohn Trumbull's Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting in the United States Capitol Rotunda that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress...
, which appears on the reverse of the
two-dollar billThe United States two-dollar bill is a current denomination of U.S. currency. Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson is featured on the obverse of the note. The design on the obverse is the oldest design of current U.S. currency, having been adopted in 1929.The reverse is the second oldest...
.
Early years
Trumbull was born in
Lebanon, ConnecticutLebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
, to
Jonathan TrumbullJonathan Trumbull, Sr. was one of the few Americans who served as governor in both a pre-Revolutionary colony and a post-Revolutionary state...
, who was Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784. He entered the 1771 junior class at
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and currently comprises ten separate academic units...
at age fifteen and graduated in 1773. Due to a childhood accident, Trumbull lost use of one eye, which may have influenced his detailed painting style.
As a soldier in the
American Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , also sometimes known as the American War of Independence, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen united former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers...
, Trumbull rendered a particular service at
BostonBoston is the capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is considered the economic and cultural center of the region and is sometimes regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England"...
by sketching plans of the British
worksFortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defense in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
, and witnessed the famous
Battle of Bunker HillThe Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
. He was appointed second personal aide to General
George WashingtonGeorge Washington was the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and served as the first President of the United States of America...
, and in June 1776 deputy adjutant-general to General
Horatio GatesHoratio Lloyd Gates was a British soldier turned American general during the Revolutionary War. He took credit for the American victory at the Battle of Saratoga and was blamed for the defeat at the Battle of Camden.-Early career:Gates was born in...
, but resigned from the army in 1777.
In 1780 he traveled to
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
where he studied under
Benjamin WestBenjamin West RA was an Anglo-American painter of historical scenes around and after the time of the American War of Independence...
, who suggested to him that he paint small pictures of the War of Independence and miniature portraits, of which he produced about 250 in his lifetime.
On September 23, 1780 British agent Major
John AndréJohn André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American Revolutionary War. This was due to an incident in which he assisted Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British Army.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
was captured in America, and on October 2, 1780, hanged as a spy. News reached Europe, and as an officer of similar rank as André in the Continental Army, Trumbull was imprisoned for seven months in London's
Tothill Fields BridewellTothill Fields Bridewell was a prison located in the Westminster area of central London between 1618 and 1884. It was named 'Bridewell' after the Bridewell Palace, which during the 16th century had become one of the City of London's most important prisons...
.
In 1784 he was again in London working under West, in whose studio he painted his
Battle of Bunker Hill and
Death of Montgomery, both of which are now in the
Yale University Art GalleryThe Yale University Art Gallery houses a significant and encyclopedic collection of art in several buildings on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Although it embraces all cultures and periods, the Gallery possesses especially renowned collections of early Italian painting,...
.
In 1785 Trumbull went to
ParisParis is the capital of France and the country's most populous city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he made portrait sketches of French officers for
The Surrender of Cornwallis, and began, with the assistance of Jefferson,
Declaration of IndependenceJohn Trumbull's Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting in the United States Capitol Rotunda that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress...
, well-known from the engraving by
Asher Brown DurandAsher Brown Durand was an American painter of the Hudson River School.-Early life:Durand was born in and eventually died in Maplewood, New Jersey , the eighth of eleven children; his father was a watchmaker and a silversmith...
. This latter painting was purchased by the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
along with his
Surrender of General Burgoyne,
Surrender at Yorktown, and
Washington Resigning his Commission, and these paintings now hang in the
United States CapitolThe United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the Federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall. Though not in the geographic center of the District of...
. Allegedly because Congress only voted enough money for four paintings for the Capital Rotunda only these four of Trumbull's paintings on the Revolution are hung there. Not hung were "Death of General Warren at Bunker Hill"; "Death of General Montgomery at Quebec"; "Capture of Hessians at Battle of Trenton"; "Death of General Mercer at Battle of Princeton". Trumbull's
The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, 1789The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, 1789 is the title of a 1789 oil-on-canvas painting by American artist John Trumbull...
, owned by the Boston Athenaeum, is now in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Middle years
Trumbull sold a series of 28 paintings and 60 miniature portraits to
Yale UniversityYale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale has produced many notable alumni, including five...
in 1831 for an annuity of US$1000. This is by far the largest single collection of his works. The collection was originally housed in a neoclassical art gallery designed by Trumbull on Yale's
Old CampusThe Old Campus is a complex of buildings at Yale University on the block at the northwest end of the green in New Haven, Connecticut, consisting of dormitories, classrooms, chapels and offices...
, along with portraits by other artists.
His portraits include full lengths of General Washington (1790) and George Clinton (1791), in
New York City HallNew York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center section of Lower Manhattan between Broadway, Park Row and Chambers Street. The building itself is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as the office of...
, where there are also full lengths of
Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was the first United States Secretary of the Treasury, a Founding Father, economist, and political philosopher...
(1805, and the source of the face on the
U.S. $10 billThe United States ten-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. The first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton is currently featured on the obverse of the bill, while the U.S. Treasury is featured on the reverse. The United States ten-dollar bill ($10) is a...
) and
John JayJohn Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, President of the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1779 and, from 1789 to 1795, the first Chief Justice of the United States...
, and portraits of
John AdamsJohn Adams was an American politician and the second President of the United States , after being the first Vice President for two terms. He is regarded as one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States.Adams came to prominence in the early stages of the American Revolution...
(1797), Jonathan Trumbull, and
Rufus KingRufus King was an American lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress. He also attended the Constitutional Convention and was one of the signers of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
(1800),; of
Timothy DwightTimothy Dwight may refer to:*Timothy Dwight College, a residential college at Yale University*Timothy Dwight IV , President of Yale University from 1795–1817*Timothy Dwight V , President of Yale University from 1886–1899...
and Stephen Van Rensselaer, (both at Yale),
Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was the first United States Secretary of the Treasury, a Founding Father, economist, and political philosopher...
(in the
Metropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art, known colloquially as The Met, is an art museum located on the eastern edge of Central Park, along what is known as Museum Mile in New York City, USA. It has a permanent collection containing more than two million works of art, divided into nineteen curatorial...
and in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, both taken from Ceracchi's bust), a portrait of himself painted in 1833, a full length of Washington, at
Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston is a city in Charleston County, South Carolina in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It is the largest city and county seat of Charleston County. The city was founded as Charlestown or Charles Towne, Carolina in 1670, and moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of...
,a full length of Washington in military costume (1792), (now at Yale), and portraits of President and
Mrs. Washington Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was the wife of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Although the title was not coined until after her death, Martha Washington is considered to be the first First Lady of the United States...
(1794), in the
National Museum of American HistoryThe National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Dorothy's ruby...
.
Trumbull's own portrait was painted by
Gilbert StuartGilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
and by many others.
In 1794 Trumbull acted as secretary to John Jay in London during the negotiation of the treaty with Great Britain, and in 1796 he was appointed by the commissioners sent by the two countries the fifth commissioner to carry out the seventh article of the treaty.
Later years
Trumbull was appointed president of the American Academy of the Fine Arts, a position he held for nine years, from 1816 to 1825, though he did not get along with the students, and his skills declined. Eventually by 1825, his lack of support for the students led to the down fall of the Academy with the students rebelling and founding the
National Academy of DesignThe National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design—known simply as the "National Academy"—is an honorary association of American artists, with a museum and a school of fine arts....
. He published an autobiography in 1841.
He died in
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is among the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, fashion and entertainment...
at the age of 88. He was originally interred (along with his wife) beneath the Art Gallery at
Yale UniversityYale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Yale has produced many notable alumni, including five...
that he had designed. In 1867, his collection, and the remains, were moved to the newly built Street Hall. The Trumbull Gallery was later razed.
The
John Trumbull BirthplaceJohn Trumbull Birthplace, also known as Governor Jonathan Trumbull House, is a house on Lebanon Green, in Lebanon, Connecticut. The house was constructed by Joseph Trumbull as a wedding gift for his son Jonathan Trumbull, who became governor....
, in Lebanon, Connecticut, was declared a
National Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance. All NHLs are listed in the National Register of Historic Places...
in 1965.
Paintings
- The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
- The Death of General Montgomery in the Attack on Quebec
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly-formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
- Declaration of Independence
John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot oil-on-canvas painting in the United States Capitol Rotunda that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress...
- http://digital-library.usma.edu/cdm4/item viewer.php?CISOROOT=/stockbridge&CISOPTR=663&CISOBOX=1&REC=20 Capture of the Hessians at the Battle of Trenton {reference only}
- Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
{See Below}
- The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga
The Saratoga campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
- The Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown or Battle of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by General Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by General Lord Cornwallis...
- Washington Resigning his Commission
- Portraits of George Washington
George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and served as the first President of the United States of America...
and John AdamsJohn Adams was an American politician and the second President of the United States , after being the first Vice President for two terms. He is regarded as one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States.Adams came to prominence in the early stages of the American Revolution...
- The Death of Aemilius Paullus at the Battle of Cannae
- The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, 1789
The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, 1789 is the title of a 1789 oil-on-canvas painting by American artist John Trumbull...
- Self-portrait
- Portrait of Josiah Bartlett
Josiah Bartlett , was an American physician and statesman, delegate to the Continental Congress for New Hampshire, and signatory of the Declaration of Independence...
External links