A Brief Course on Revolutionary Painters

Painters who Captured the Heroes

Though the American Revolution is recent history when compared to other events, much of it remains a mystery. With no photos to provide clarity, we rely on our imaginations for a good deal of it.

The Revolution is rich with myths and legends. Some are real, some are not; they’re held together by the courage of ragtag soldiers who managed to beat what was then the greatest Empire in the world.

We do have ideas about what these heroes looked like. These ideas are due to artists who set about capturing, with careful brushstrokes, faces and events that changed history.

Here are just a few of them.

John Trumbull

Many paintings which capture significant moments in the Revolutionary War were created by artist John Trumbull.

Perhaps one of his most significant is Declaration of Independence. It depicts the presentation of Jefferson’s draft to the Continental Congress for approval and, later, signing.

Declaration of Independence (1818), John Trumbull

John Trumbull, the son of a Connecticut governor, was behind many famous paintings from this time. He had a good view for these events. At the age of nineteen, when he was a lieutenant, Trumbull was hired by General George Washington to create a series of drawings and maps.

Another powerful painting by John Trumbull depicts the resignation of George Washington as commander-in-chief of the Constitutional Army on December 23, 1783. The scene takes place in the Maryland State House in Annapolis; viewers of the painting can admire how Trumbull created light over the hero.

This was one of the last four paintings created by Trumbull during his commission by Congress. Learn more here.

General George Washington Resigning His Commission (1824), John Trumbull

John Singleton Copley

John Singleton Copley was born in Boston in 1738. He became famous for painting the likenesses of heroes such as Paul Revere, who played an important role in our nation’s early history.