New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-08
STUDIES IN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
JOHN TRUMBULL.
BY CHARLES T. CoNGDoN.


the Revolution, among the best known produc-
lions of American art His Battle of BunkerS
Hill is the standard painting upon that SUBJECT
His Declaration Of Independence is ana prop
ably will remain the popular presentation Oh 'haV
event for il is historically accurate ana Iu Poi
traiture. while there is nothing In the theme 20
tempt any great artist 70 try II over again rum
hull in his old age wrote his Autobiography WHICH
~ very interesting apart from ms work on canvass
lie was born at Lebanon, Conn., on the oth Oh '"ue
1886 coming of good New England stock. lie teIs
us that his mother, Faith Robinson, daughter OF
Iohp Robinson. minister Of DuXbury in Massachu-
setts was understood to be gTcat-GTanddaughter
~ Iohn Robinson the father and leader OF the
pilerims Trumbull was the Youngest chlld OF MS
parents and during his first months was subject 10
daily commissions. The bones of ms skull inS'ea"
of uniting in the several suturos, ana FORMING
smooth surface had slipped over each otheT' prouuc-
ing sensible ridges the head. The brain hot nav
inc room In which TO expand, commissions followed
Under the advice of physicians his mother effected
a cure by applying her hands to the head oil the
child daily and many times day, and gently ana
carefully drawing the sutures apart. ms treat
mept saved him from carry ued'n
or from idiocy. Trumbull was a precocious enid
He knew something of Greek at tie age OF SIN
wears At twelve years Of age he was ready 10 enter
college Notwithstanding the commerclal diihcuI
into which
member of the junior class Of Harvard College IN
l772 In passing through Boston he had the
Measure Of an introduction 10 Mr. COpley the artist
then residing there Those who know the splendors
Of Coplcy's costume painting viii not be surprised
TO learn that Trumbull found him an elegant look
ing man, dressed in fine maroon cloth Win gil'
buttons while his pictures absorbed the attention
of 1rumhull who had already begun TO try ms mana
AZ painting renewing all his desire 10 enter upon
such pursuit. ,
The voupo student graduated IN July, 1913, with
ont applause he tells us for he was no speaker. lie
began to paint in rather an unusual way lie
selected from various engravIugs such figures as
suited his purpose combining them into groups and
oolorinC them from his own imagination. Ii was III
this way that he put together picture OF PauiuS
Emilius ut the battle of Gamma. But the days OF
real action were at hand the Revolution was DC
ginning Trumbulps father was a patnot ana
Governor of the colony. When Intelligence OF the
battle of Lexington reached Connecticut It's FIRST
regiment wa, on its mar h to Boston before tho LIST
nf Nav. and Of this Trumbull was adiutant. He
AID not participate in the battle of Bunker Hill,
beina stationed with his regiment at RoXbuTy,
and he had no correct account OF the re-
mlt of the battle until late at night. When
Ceneral Washington arrived. IYumbull was appoint
Cd his second aide-ds camp. After the evacuation
of Boston Trunbull followed the army to NeW-lorh
and mentions that he was quartered at Colonel
Rntgerss scat, near Corlaer's Hook. 1t was then
beautiful high ground. but Ia the levelllng spirit
~ the age" saws TruInbull, lit is now as Hat as
table" Gates having been made major-general.
and assigned 10 the Northern Department, offered
him the position Of adjutant-geneFa WIN the rank
of coloncI which he accepted. He joined the army
at Crown Point. Ii is needless to 60 into any ac-
count of the unfortunate military operations ID
which Trumbul participated. lie gives, however
{ I In, o. iXr " Qh
the army made its way 10 Albany. Some OF the
troops." he saws "who had passed before us had
landed on the west shore of the lake and lighted
Ares for cooking The was cold anu dry;
the leaves had fallen in Masses the fire mad extend
ed TO them and spread from ledge to ledge, from
rock to rock, to the very SUBMITS where II was
from 700 TO LOCO feet high In parts the ire crep'
along the crevces of he rocks; times an ancient
nine tree rose up. majestic pyramid of flame; and
all this was reflected in the pellucd surface OF the
lake. which lay like beautiful mirror in the still
ness of the dark night unruiled but by the oars OF
our SOLITARY boat, and these were fire.
ouently suspended that we might ENJOY
the magnificent scene. No human habi-
tation was exposed TO danger, for none existed
on that desoate and rocky shore. Snakes wolves
and bears were the only living things exposed TO
harm"
Trumbnl left the army upon point Of etiquette
think that the Congress had treated him we'll We
all know something of the mternlnabo jealouSies
of that time and how little the Congress did wisely
10 allav them Trunbull went back TO rustic Leb-
anon and his painting. and soon after to Berlin
where he hired the room which had been Dullt by
Mr. Smibert. the patriarch OF painting IN America.
He served as a volunteer aid-de-camp in General
Sullivan. expedition to Rhode Island. But he was
anxious to 20 to England. and was assured through
fr,o,,d who had consulted Lord George GeTmanc,
that # he resided quietly in London no notice
would be taken by the Government OF his presence
there Afterward lie found that this was a mistake
,rsmisstat.ment However, he embarked N May,
1850 ON board French ship for Nantes. ~ farls
ne met Dr Franklin. aud his grandson Temple
Franklin John Adams and his son John e.. then
bey at school OF fourteen. With line OF intro
auction from Dr. Franklin to MI West TrunbuH
went to London. II was rather a bold step for an
,x-oficer of the American Army to take, but he was
assured that so long he attended to his art ana
did not NEEDLE with politics, he would not be us
kurbed The placid, halt Quaker artist received
him kindly. Look around the ROOM, ne
said and see if there anything which
you would like to copy" lrmmbull Sc
iected "a beautiful small round picture OF
mother and two children" West looked keenly
nj him and asked him if he knew what he had
chosen. Trunlbull confessed that he did not and
was informed that it copy of the Madonna
della Sedia of Raphael. The selection Of such
WORK" said the kindly artist. rs good omen;
and then he took him into another room and intro
duced hlm 10 stuart who was a pupil OF W est. The
President was pleased to notice that lru!nbull be-
gan his copying without the usual AID OF squares
trnstino 10 the eve for correct outline But while
the Young American was peacefully painting the
authorities arrested him. IN spite OF previous as
.u,.rcas aud locked him ND in the TothlliIelds