The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-02
HISTORY BUILDERS.
How Yale Acquired John Trumbull's
PAINTINGS.


| Written Expressly for The Wellington Herald.
BY DIR. f. J. EDWARDS.
The late Judge Learned Hebard. Of
Lebanon. Conn.,. was tho executor OF
the estate of one Of the sons and at
least one of the grandsons of Jonathan
Trumbull, who gained reputation At
the time of the War Of the Revolution
as the governor Of Connecticut. and to
whom Gen. Washington applied the
name Of Brother Jonathan. which
was accepted as q national nickname.
In examining the various properties
which came into Judge Hebard's hands
as administrator and executor OF the
Trumbull estate. he discovered many
which were associated with Washing
toms Brother Jonathan. Judge Heb
ard. also as executor. gained much In
teresting information respecting John
Trumbull, who gained distinction as
great American painter. four of whose
paintings are now in conspicuous posi-
lions in the Capitol at WashingtoD,
and whose portrait of Washington was
reported by those who knew WASH
ington and who saw the portrait. to be
the best likeness Of the great Presi-
dent ever put upon canvas.
John Trumbull." said Judge Heb
ard to me at a time when he visited
Yale College, principally for the pur-
pose of looking at the collected paint
ings of John Trumbull, which hung in
a building especially built to receive
them, should have been rich man.
Instead of that. he suffered more than
he ever confessed to any one from
privation which was pretty neNr ac-
tual poverty. He was never aoie 10
sell his paintings for a very large
amount. but he was SO greatly devoted
to his vocation that he was willing to
endure poverty il he only earned
enough to keep body and soul together
and to provide the necessaries OF life
for the family.
Il learned by looking over the
Trumbull papers how it happened that
John Trumbull. in the last twelve
suffering of absolute perjury. He
had a large number Of paintings
which had been greatly admired. espe-
cially by those who were living at the
time of the War of the Revolution.
Almost all of his paintings were his
torical and depicted scenes and per-
sons associated with the Revolutionary
War Trumbull was near desperate
emergency when he was about 70
wears of age. He possessed nothing
but his pictures. and he could not ind
a market for them. A few or his
friends. who knew Of his adversities,
believed that they could work out
plan whereby he could be provided
with a sufficient income. even though
he could not sell his pictures. They
approached the president Of Yale Col
lege, who was DR.. Day, and made u
proposition to him. Trumbull was ad-
vised a little later that II he were
willing to accept an annuity. to be
maid him in quarterly installments
each year as long as he lived. and
would in return turn over to Yale Col
lege such pictures as he possessed. he
would be provided for. and in addition
a permanent home for his pictures
would be secured. He wanted to know
whether the annuity would be enough
for his support. and they asked him
how much he thought would be
enough. He asked IL they thought
thousand dollars a year would be too
much, saying that in view OF his age
payments would not have to be contin-
ued for many years.
John Trumbull was rejoiced when
he was told that Yale College had
agreed to pay him a yearly annuity or
n thousand dollars. taking In return
the pictures to be permanently held
by the college. 1t was blessing to
that old man who had done such won
derful work as an artist. lor ne was
the first historical painter of the
United States. Yale College did not
have to pay the annuity very long. 1t
is NV recollection that the total
amount paid Trumbull was $1,000" {
Copyricht us by h. J. Edwards All rights re-
scryed.I
Tomorrow DIR. Edwards will tell
How Two Presidents Widows Were +
Provided For"