American artist whose best paintings have been decorating the interior of the central rotunda of the US Capitol for 200 years

John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 November 10, 1843) famous American artist of the 18th 19th centuries, an outstanding master historical and portrait genres. John Trumbull was an ardent adherent of the development of classical traditions in painting, and his work was highly appreciated by his contemporaries. Most of the master’s paintings today are kept in museums in the United States, and four of his best works adorn the rotunda of the Capitol in Washington. The artist’s biography is full of interesting events, he lived a long life and left hundreds of unique works to descendants.

John Trumbull was an active participant in the United States War of Independence and painted a number of paintings dedicated to this important historical event. In recognition of the master’s merits, his contemporaries often called him “The Artist of the Revolution”, and prominent American politicians willingly ordered ceremonial portraits from the painter.

Biography of John Trumbull

John Trumbull was born on June 6, 1756 in the small town of Lebanon, Connecticut, in the family of the famous military leader and politician Jonathan Trumbull Sr. The father of the future artist was a very extraordinary personality, he served as governor of the state for many years, had a doctorate in jurisprudence and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. John was the youngest, the sixth child in the family, and only he dreamed of becoming an artist from an early age, and his three older brothers chose a military career.

While still in elementary school, young Trumbull lost an eye in an accident. Despite this unpleasant incident, he managed to go to college at Harvard University and graduated in 1775. But John’s further plans for a peaceful life were suddenly disrupted by the outbreak of the US War of Independence, in the initial stage of which the young man took an active part. Due to his disability, he was not taken into the active army, but Trumbull’s abilities came in handy in preparing the defense of Boston, when a plan of military engineering communications carefully drawn by him helped the revolutionaries to hold the important city.

After the Battle of Bunker Hill at the end of June 1775, the 19-year-old boy was appointed adjutant to George Washington, and a year later he took up a similar position at the headquarters of General Horatio Gates.

And yet, in 1777, Trumbull had to leave military service due to vision problems, and he was finally able to return to a peaceful life.

The lack of professional academic education was a serious obstacle to a successful career as an artist. Therefore, John willingly took the help of Benjamin Franklin, who recommended to his friend Benjamin West to take a promising young man to his apprentices. In the spring of 1780, Trumbull left for London, where West had lived for a long time. Under the guidance of an experienced mentor, he began to paint miniature portraits and paintings of the historical genre, but was suddenly arrested on charges of spying for the American colonists and spent six months in prison.

Fortunately, the timely intervention of influential patrons helped the artist avoid a harsh sentence. Six months later, the British authorities released him and Trumbull immediately returned to the United States. On the advice of his older brother David, he got a job in the supply department of the American army and served there for several years.

In 1784, the British Empire officially recognized the independence of the United States of America, so John was free to return to London to continue his studies with Benjamin West. Trumbull again departed for Europe and over the next two years worked hard in the workshop of his mentor, comprehending the secrets of the profession of a painter. Then the artist spent several months in Paris, where he painted a number of portrait miniatures, and at the end of 1876 returned to the United States.

After a trip to Europe, the attitude towards John Trumbull at home changed dramatically.

He became a very popular and respected master of painting, so the US Congress commissioned the artist four large-scale paintings of the historical genre for the central rotunda of the Capitol. In addition, Trumbull was a sought-after portrait painter and immortalized on canvas for posterity the images of many prominent American politicians, including several presidents:

• George Washington;
• John Adams;
• Alexander Hamilton.

Despite universal recognition, painting did not bring a large income to the artist, so John Trumbull combined painting with the public service for many years. He worked on the Foreign Affairs Commission, and for a long time was the secretary of one of the founding fathers of the United States, John Jay.

In 1816, the already middle-aged painter was appointed president of the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York and held this position for the next 20 years. He was an ardent adherent of the ideas of classicism in painting and fought desperately with innovative views, but not very successfully. In 1825, most of the students and teachers left the university and founded the National Academy of Design, which was a serious blow to the 69-year-old director.

Shortly before his death, the painter published his detailed biography, but by that time the public had already ceased to be interested in his work. And on November 10, 1843, at the age of 87, John Trumbull died in New York, where he was buried.

The most famous paintings by John Trumbull

Among the large number of portraits and works of the historical genre created by the artist, there are many excellent works. And yet, the most famous paintings by John Trumbull are rightfully considered:

• The Declaration of Independence (1817-1819) is the first of four pieces commissioned by the American Congress to decorate the interior of the Capitol building. A miniature reproduction of this painting is featured on the back of a two-dollar bill.
• The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis (1819-1820) is a masterpiece that captures a turning point in the struggle of the War of Independence. After the second battle of Saratoga, which ended with the surrender of British troops, France entered the war on the side of the colonists, which significantly changed the alignment of forces of the warring parties.
• The Surrender of General Burgoyne (1821) is a work celebrating the last American victory in the War of Independence. In the center of the picture, on a white horse, is depicted General Benjamin Lincoln, ready to accept personal weapons from the hands of the British commander as a sign of the enemy’s surrender.
• “General George Washington Resigns” (1824) is a work that vividly describes the exciting moment of the voluntary relinquishment of the supreme power of the first president of the United States. This painting has been considered an outstanding artistic symbol of the triumph of democracy for many years.

John Trumbull left a bright mark on the history of American painting and will forever remain in the memory of posterity. And connoisseurs of art can see his best masterpieces not only in museums, but also on dollar bills, as well as in the building of the US Capitol.