Evening journal., 1915-04-02
New News Of Yesterday
How Yale Acquired John
Trumbull'S Paintings
By Holland.

BY Holland.
The late Judge Learned Hebard, OF
Lebanon, Conn, was the executor of
the estate of one OF the sons and at
least one of th grandsons of Jonathan
Trumbull. who gained reputation at
the time Of the war OF the Revolution
as the governor of Connecticut, and to
whom General Washington applied
the name OF "Brothor Jonathan"
which was accepted as a national nick
name. In examining the various prop
critics which came into Judge Hebard's
hands as administrator and executor
OF the Trumbull estate, he discovered
many which were associated with
Washington's Brother Jonathan.
Judge Hehard also as executor gain
ed much interesting information re-
specing John Trumbull, who gained
distinction as a great American paint
or, iour OF whose paintings are now,
in conspicuous positions In the Capitol
az Washington. and whose portrait of
Washington was reported by those
who knew Washington and VINO saw
the portrait, TO be the best likeness OF
the great President ever put upon
canvas.
John Irumhull, said Juoge HE'D
ard to me at a time when he visited
Yale College, principally for the pur-
pose oil looking at the collected paint
1 ings OF john Trumbull, which hung in
a building especially built 70 receive
/ them, should have been q rich man.
/ Instead OF that, he suffered more than
he ever confessed 10 any ono from
/ priyation which was pretty near ac-
/ tual poverty. He was never able 10
sell his paintings for a very large
amount. but he was so greatly devoted
to his vocation that he was willing TO
endure povert. if he only earned
I enough 20 keep body and soul together
and TO provide the necessaries Of life
for the family.
81 learned by looking over the
Trumbull papers how il happened that
John rrumbull, In the last twelve
years OF his life, was spared from the
suffering of absolute penury. He had
large number of paintings whicn
had been greatly admired, especially
by those who we're living at the time
of the War OF the Revolution. Almost
all of his paintings were historical
and depicted scenes and persons asso-
ciated with the Revolutionary War
Trumbull was near desperate emor-
gency when he was about 20 years ol
age. He possessed nothing but his
pictures. and he could not find mar
ket for them. A few of lis friends
who knew OF his adversities. believed
that they could work out plan
whereby he could be provided with o
sufficient income. even though he
could not sell his pictures. They ap-
preached the president of Yale Col
lege, who was Dr. Day, and made 9
proposition to him. Trumbull was ad
/: ysed little later that If he were
willing to accept an annuity, TO bl
paid him in quarterly instaliment
each year as long as he lived. ant
would in return turn over 70 Yale Col
lege such pictures as he possessed. h
would be provided for. and in addition
permanent home for his picture
would be secured He wanted L
know whether the annuity would bi
/ enough for his support, and they ask
ed him how much he thought would b'
enough He asked II they thought 1
thousand dollar a year would be toe
much. saying that in view Of his age
payments would not have to be con
tinued for many years.
"John Trumbull was reioicod whcI
he was told that Yale College haC
agreed to pay him a yearly annuity o
thousand dollars. taking in return
the pictures to be permanently hel'
/ by the college. II was a blessing t
that old man who had done such won
\ derful work as an artist, for he wal
! the first historical painter oil tn
United States. Yale College did no
! have to pay The annuity very long. ]
is my recollection that the toia
amount paid Trumbull was $1,000"