Have You Ever Seen A Painting By John Trumbull???

Have “you ever seen a painting by John Trumbull? Founding fathers in a line, looking all humble. Patiently waiting to sign a declaration, to start a nation, no sign of disagreement, not one grumble?” These are words written by Lin Manuel Miranda and almost included in his hit Broadway success, Hamilton. These words are used as a statement piece, they describe a painting that immortalized a group. A painting that got it all wrong.

Much like Alexander Hamilton, John Trumbull is yet another founding father that is completely forgotten about. If a person knows anything about American history they can usually recognize the famous painting of Thomas Jefferson presenting the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that they know the artist behind the painting

. This artist is none other than John Trumbull.
It is this writers opinion that John Trumbull is one of the forgotten founding fathers. Born on June 6, 1756 in Lebanon, colony of Connecticut; Trumbull grew up in a time of beginning unrest within the colonies of North America. His father served as the Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784. He was the sixteenth Governor for the Colony of Connecticut and the first to serve after the United States declared independence from Great Britain.

        When the Revolution broke out young Trumbull’s life was changed, as was anyone's who lived within the thirteen colonies. As a graduate of Harvard, he made himself useful by sketching the British works in Boston, which was said to help the patriots in their (unsuccessful) protection of Bunker (Breeds) Hill in 1775. Soon after this he was appointed the second personal aide to General George Washington and in 1777 he was appointed deputy adjutant-general to General Horatio Gates. Unfortunately, Trumbull resigned from the army in 1777 after there was a dispute over the dating of his commission.

Trumbull's time to shine was not over though, in fact it was only starting. With no future of a military career, Trumbull traveled to London where Benjamin Franklin introduced him to his godson and well renowned artist, Benjamin West. West was a man so talented that he went from being a small town Pennsylvania boy to President of the Royal Academy without really being able to spell. He taught Trumbull how to use his life experiences of war, and his connections with well known Founding Fathers, to create masterpieces about his home. Within his life Trumbull created more than two hundred and fifty paintings. Additionally, due to a childhood accident, Trumbull lost use of one eye which may have influenced his detailed painting style.

On September 23, 1780, Major John André was captured by the Continental troops in New York. Major André was found to have the plans to West Point hidden within his boot. These plans were given to him by the traitor Benedict Arnold. While Arnold escaped and switched sides André was tried as a spy. He was hung on October 2, 1780. This may seem irrelevant but, when news reached London of André’s execution there was a tremendous outcry. As a result, Trumbull, who had been of an equivalent rank to André was arrested and held by the British for seven months. It feels important to note that Major André was loved by both English and Americans alike. It is said that as they watched André die, both Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette shed tears. Trumbull was lucky and survived his captivity, although it may have renewed his vigor to memorialize and glorify the founding of his new nation.

Of the young painter the future First Lady of the United States, Abigail Adams, once wrote that “he is the first painter who has undertaken to immortalize by his pencil those great actions that gave birth to our nation.” her husband John was not as much of a fan, Trumbull’s famous painting of the signing of the Declaration had many errors (thanks to an aging Thomas Jefferson), but all in all Trumbull was a painter successful within his times. Abigail Adams was only one of many very important fans of the young artist.

Today, most of Trumbull’s art sits in the Yale Art Gallery. A more popular place to gaze upon some of his pieces is within the United States Capitol buildings Rotunda. The pieces at Yale are more accessible though, a requirement that was put within Trumbull’s will. When it came time to choose an institution that would receive his art (and also his corpse) he was torn between Yale and Harvard. Harvard was his alma mater but Yale was within his home land. In the end Yale, and Connecticut, won him over… but he had a few requirements. First of all, his body would have to be buried somewhere located under where his paintings were displayed. Secondly, a large portion of his donated pieces had to be on display at all times. Lastly, and most shockingly, if the public has to ever pay an unreasonable price to get into the museum (Yale offers free admission) both Trumbull’s body and his art must be sent to Harvard.