Isabella Flores
John Trumbull was an American painter, diplomat, and architect, best known for his paintings of the American Revolutionary War. Four of his paintings hang in the United States Capitol Rotunda, depicting pivotal moments before, during, and after the war. These paintings are 'Declaration of Independence', 'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis', 'Surrender of General Burgoyne', and 'General George Washington Resigning His Commission'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of paintings | 4 |
| Artist | John Trumbull |
| Year of completion | 1817-1824 |
| Theme | Historical events of the American Revolution |
| Location | United States Capitol Rotunda |
| Titles of paintings | Declaration of Independence, Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, Surrender of General Burgoyne, General George Washington Resigning His Commission |
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What You'll Learn
The Declaration of Independence
John Trumbull's painting, 'Declaration of Independence', is an oil-on-canvas work that depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to the Second Continental Congress on June 28, 1776. It is not a depiction of the signing of the Declaration, which mainly took place on August 2. The painting was based on a smaller version of the same scene, which is now held by the Yale University Art Gallery.
Trumbull's painting shows 42 of the 56 signers of the Declaration, with the artist originally intending to include all 56 but being unable to obtain likenesses for all of them. He also depicted several participants in the debate who did not sign the document, including John Dickinson. Trumbull consulted with Thomas Jefferson and John Adams about who should be included in the scene, and they urged him to include all the delegates, even those who were not present or who had opposed the Declaration.
The central group in the painting shows Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration, presenting the document to John Hancock, the president of the Congress. With Jefferson are the other members of the committee that created the draft: John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, and Benjamin Franklin. This event took place in the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
Trumbull's 'Declaration of Independence' is one of four large history paintings commissioned by Congress in 1817 to hang in the Capitol Rotunda. The other three paintings are: 'Surrender of General Burgoyne', 'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis', and 'General George Washington Resigning His Commission'.
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Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
John Trumbull's painting, 'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis', depicts the surrender of British Lieutenant General Charles, Earl Cornwallis, at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781. This event marked the end of the last major campaign of the American Revolutionary War and virtually guaranteed American independence. The painting is one of four large history paintings commissioned for the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., which depict pivotal moments from before, during, and after the war.
Trumbull's personal experiences and acquaintances during the war influenced his artwork. He served as an officer and aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the conflict, sketching significant people and places. In the painting, General Washington can be seen riding a brown horse in the background, as Lord Cornwallis himself was not present for the surrender.
The scene shows American General Benjamin Lincoln mounted on a white horse in the centre, extending his right hand towards the sword of the surrendering British officer, General Charles O'Hara. To the left are French officers standing and mounted beneath the white banner of the royal Bourbon family, and to the right are American officers under the Stars and Stripes, including the Marquis de Lafayette and Colonel Jonathan Trumbull, the painter's brother.
Trumbull created the painting between 1819 and 1820, based on a smaller version he had first envisioned in 1785. The larger version measures twelve by eighteen feet and was exhibited in New York City, Boston, and Baltimore before being installed in the Capitol Rotunda in late 1820, where it remains today.
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Surrender of General Burgoyne
John Trumbull's painting 'Surrender of General Burgoyne' depicts British Lieutenant General John Burgoyne surrendering to American Major General Horatio Gates at Saratoga, New York, on October 17, 1777. This event followed battles with American General Horatio Gates near Saratoga in September and October 1777, with the British losing men and defences. Burgoyne retreated with his weakened army to Saratoga, where he ultimately surrendered. This moment in the American Revolution is considered a turning point, as it prevented the British from dividing New England from the rest of the colonies and prompted the French to actively support the American cause.
Trumbull's painting captures the moment when General Burgoyne is prepared to surrender his sword to General Gates. However, in a show of respect, Gates refuses to take the sword and instead gestures towards the tent, inviting Burgoyne to take refreshment. The scene conveys peace rather than conflict, with the officers dressed in their formal uniforms, their weapons sheathed or slung, and cannons standing silent beneath a clear blue sky. The American flag flies proudly atop the tent.
Trumbull's personal experiences during the war influenced his artistic choices. He included topographical features of the surrender site, such as a large tree in the left foreground, and added autumnal details like trees and leaves. The figures in the painting are based on portraits he created from life in the early 1790s, including many leaders of the American Continental Army and militia forces. Among the American officers depicted are Colonel Lewis, Quartermaster-General, on horseback, and Colonel Daniel Morgan, standing at the head of the officers.
Trumbull began sketching ideas for this painting in 1785, intending to commemorate significant events of the American Revolution. He completed 'Surrender of General Burgoyne' in 1821, and it was exhibited in New York City from January to March 1822. The painting now hangs in the United States Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., alongside three other works by Trumbull depicting pivotal moments of the Revolutionary War: 'Declaration of Independence', 'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis', and 'General George Washington Resigning His Commission'.
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General George Washington Resigning His Commission
John Trumbull's painting "General George Washington Resigning His Commission" is one of four large history paintings displayed in the Capitol Rotunda, depicting pivotal moments before, during, and after the Revolutionary War. The painting was created between 1822 and 1824 and was the last of the four paintings that Trumbull created under his 1817 commission from the U.S. Congress.
The painting depicts a significant historical event that took place on December 23, 1783, in the Maryland State House in Annapolis. On this day, General George Washington, illuminated by the light falling into the room, stood in uniform before Thomas Mifflin, the president of the Continental Congress, and the delegates, to resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. This act symbolized Washington's relinquishment of military power and his desire to return to civilian life at his Mount Vernon estate, a decision that was admired by many, including King George III.
Trumbull's painting captures the solemnity of the moment, with Washington standing before a chair draped with a cloak, symbolizing the vacant throne. Washington's action mirrored that of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus, a Roman leader who gave up power and returned to his farm. The inclusion of Washington's aides-de-camp, Col. Benjamin Walker, and Col. David Humphreys, as well as other figures like Thomas Jefferson, further enhances the historical accuracy and significance of the painting.
Trumbull paid close attention to detail in creating this painting, studying previous portraits, contacting members of Congress, and visiting the Senate Chamber of the State House to sketch the room. He also based the representation of George Washington on his earlier 1792 portrait, "General George Washington at Trenton." A smaller version of "General George Washington Resigning His Commission," completed in 1828, is now part of the collection at the Yale University Art Gallery.
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The Revolutionary War
John Trumbull was an American painter, diplomat, and architect, best known for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He served as an aide to General George Washington and achieved the rank of colonel.
Trumbull's four paintings, commissioned by the US Congress, hang in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. They depict pivotal moments before, during, and after the Revolutionary War. These paintings include:
Declaration of Independence (1818)
This painting depicts the presentation of the first draft of the Declaration of Independence on June 28, 1776. It was completed in 1818 and is considered one of Trumbull's most famous works. It is used on the reverse of the current two-dollar bill.
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis (1819)
This painting portrays the surrender of the British army at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, marking the end of the last major campaign of the Revolutionary War.
Surrender of General Burgoyne (1821)
This painting depicts the surrender of British General John Burgoyne during the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.
General George Washington Resigning His Commission (1824)
This painting illustrates the scene on December 23, 1783, when George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in the Maryland State House in Annapolis.
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