Glorius Lessons

TO BE FEATURED IN A MOUNT VERNON BOOK TALK AND AUTHOR SIGNING ON JUNE 10, 2024

John Trumbull (1756–1843) lived through the American Revolution firsthand, serving alongside George Washington and Horatio Gates, enduring gunfire, and facing imprisonment as a suspected spy. His mission was to chronicle the conflict, visually capturing the prevailing sentiment among citizens of the emerging United States: the belief that they had initiated a remarkable and unprecedented political experiment. His stated aim was "to preserve and disseminate the memory of the noblest series of actions ever witnessed in the history of mankind." Despite being perceived primarily as a painter by his contemporaries, Trumbull considered himself a historian.

Richard Brookhiser recounts Trumbull's journey of recognition and renown, a journey fraught with challenges of provincialism, warfare, personal turmoil, and evolving tastes. He demonstrates how Trumbull's five-decade endeavor embodied the essence of American exceptionalism, contributing significantly to shaping the values of the fledgling nation. Trumbull's depictions narrated the saga of self-governance in the modern era—a narrative as relevant and contentious today as it was two and a half centuries ago.