The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-04-20

ing in color, which, it is said, the
artist painted for hi own salts ac-
ton" Personally stuart was "bril-
liant, eccentric, sensitive, proud, a
" onderful talker, a penetrating OBJ.
server" and in early lie was a
finished musician, hut because of his
wider scope John 1iumbull is tue
typical painter of the Revolutionary
| period.
No other country has had a master
who depicted 80 perfectly the strring
events of his own time. The artist in
Trumbull was stronger tnau the SOL
der, but it was his intimate acquaint.
ance with Washington aud his lead
| ing officers that gave his creations
their Characteristic power. Tho son
OF the Colonial governor, he showed
through his course at Harvard "a de-
cided preference for art, and when he
oined the army at the age OF 10 he
| put his draug to good use
in drawing various military plans
and details. He became one of
Washington's aides de camp and
later served under Gates, but under
some fancied injury left the army
and took up his profession again. He
went to Paris and from thence to Lon
don, and studied with West until he
was arrested on suspicion of COM
plicity with Andre. Upon Vests in
PREVENTION he was released after eight
months imprisonment and returned
to America. After peace was de-
clared he went back to England to
pursue his studies and produced THE
Battle OF Bunker HIP "rhe Death
of Montgomery" and The Sortie
from Gibraltar" the latter being per-
haps the most successful OF his his
toric compositions.
He then spent another period in
his native land in active preparation
for series of pictures of the Revo-
lution, and among many others sever
al likenesses of Washington were
taken. Returning to England as
secretary to John Jay he spent nearly
decade in diplomatic service, and
in 1915 he came home for the last
time and began the four great pic
lures in the rotunda of the national
capital: 1.-The Declaration of Inde-
pendence," the Surrender of Bur-
goyne," the Surrender of Cornwall
lis" and the Resignation of Wash
ington at Annapolis This work oc-
cupied him seven yeare and he re.
ceived for it $4,000, o great sum in
those days for an American master.
But while they are very vivid and
strong these pictures are considered
somewhat interior to his earlier work.
Besides his historic and Scriptural
pieces he produced many portraits
and miniatures, and in all his phases
he was brilliant, harmonious and
realistic" Goethe saw the engraver's
copy OF the Battle Of Bunker Hill"
and praised its force aud beauty
though ne criticised the figures, and
Thackeray exhorted the American
people "never to despise or neglect"
this artist of the Revolution.
The later years of Trumbull's life
he spent in revising his subjects and
reducing them to uniform SIZE, and
having fallen upon OWL days" he
disposed Of the whole collection yet
remaining to him-about ffty-seven
pictures-to Harvard college in re-
turn for small annuity. He was
president OF the association known as
the American Academy for term of
years that closed with 1925 and he
was ian active, hearty, Independent
man." just such a man as would
naturally master the vigor of action
faithful portraiture always repeated
in his pictures. He did not fail in
technique, but his leading impression
is that of steadfast, unwavering
character.
FLORENCE l.. SNOW.
H,nonu on Han. fUnuo.,,o H,,,J XN;4t,,..