The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-02-01

his favorite object; and the year 1878 and
part of 1879, were employed in painting the
Sortic from Gibraltar, which was hnished
and exhibited iu London intMay, 1889, with
general appreciation. This picture had
surface Of feet by g exactly the fourth
part of the size of those now iii the Capitol;
and the artist was offered for it at the time.
and refused, 1900 guineas, equal to S5592.
The small preparatory study, 20 inches BY
so, was afterwards purchased by Sir Fran.
els Barring, who paid for it 500 guineas, e.
DUAL to $3.50 dollars, and is now in the pos
session of his son Alexander Barring, Esq i'll
London.
This work established the reputation of
the artist in Europe, and he might have pur-
sued his profession in London or Paris, with
the farest prospect Of success; but the mo-
ment for which he had waited was arrived
the present constitution of the United States
was adopted.-Washingto was President,
and many of the early patriots and heroes OF
the revolution were re-assembled in the va
rious departments of the new government;
the country wasin prosperity, and every Cir
cumstance concurred to favor his original
plan.
We find him therefore returning to Amer
ica in November, 1885, passing the win
ter in New York, which was then the seat
of government, and there procuring many
portraits of distinguished men, civil and mill
tary, to be introduced in the course of his
great work.
Thus far he had proceeded in his object.
without patronage, public CT private, with
devotion, which, in the estimation Of many
of his friends, bordered on insane enthusiasm.
In April, 1890, he published, in New York,
q prospectus of his intended work, and
solicited subscriptions for the prints of Bun
kers Hill and Quebec, which were alrea.
DIV in progress in the hands Of eminent en-
gravers.
The work now received substantial pat
ronagc--and in the course ot three years the
names of subscribers amounted 10 nearly
500; !. sum, however, not quite sufficient 70
cover the expense Of engraving the two
plates, each was contracted for at the price
of one thousand guineas, equal to 1866 dol
lars.
Col Trumbull remained in America until
Nav, 1894, during which time he travelled
from. New Hampshire to South Carolina,
every where endeavouring to obtain pnr-
traits of the distinguished men who had
been actors in those subjects which he had
selected, as well as views OF the place.
which had been the scenes of the several
actions; and had, in great measure, COM
pleted his collection of materials for the en-
tire work.
During this period, the French revolution
commenced with promise OF results which,
were most lamentably defeated; and ms
ing in its course to a moral and political
tornado, threatened to sweep before it all
established institutions, and to reduce hui
man society to its original elements. The
arts Of peace disappeared before the spi-
Tit OF war Europe became an immense
camp; and America hardly escaped being
involved in the universal desolaton of the
tempest.
In MAY. 1894, Mr. Jay was appointed Min
ister Penpotentarv to Great Britain; and
we find Col. Trumhul accompanying him in
the character Of Secretary.
In 1896 he received from President Wash
ington a commission TO reside in London, as
agent for the recovery of impressed seamen,
which he declined, in consequence of having
Deen appointed, in the manner provided by
the treaty, the fifth of that board of COM
missioners who were authorized TO carry in
to effect the 9TH article of the treaty, which
respected irregular OF illegal captures, one
of the most important objects of the negotia-
tion of Mr.. Jay.
This commission brought their arduous
labours to an honourable conclusion in the
spring OF 1904, when the artist returned to
the United States to witness new and un-
suspicious state ofpublc affairs. The demon
of party discord had sunk the character of
Americans in the patry distinctions of Brit
isb or French partizans, and it would have
been idle at such time and in such an alb
sence OF all national feeling to persevere in
his work of the Revolution. The project,
therefore, slept, until. in happier moment,
that joint resolution Of the two Houses of
Congress was passed, which authorised the
painting of those four subjects, which are
now placed in what may, with proprety,
be called, in future, the Hal cftAe Revolu-
tion.
In those four paintings, this nation possess
es which no other nation Of people have yet
possessed. Il is our peculiar fate to have
sprung into existence under circum stances
as singular in their nature, as the result has
been glorious Our infant years are not only
distinguished by the rugged virtues of war
but by the polished elegancies Of the arts of
peace; ard through the perseverance Of orc
man, which we believe has no parallel, dis
tant posterity will be able to view the { f.ith
full representations of those to whose hardi-
hood they stand indebted for their proud in
heritance.
We are happy to learn from the proceed
ings of the House of Repre- sentatiges, that
there is an intention to fill the remaining
vacant spaces in the grand Hail with other