“General George Washington at Trenton” by John Trumbull

“General George Washington at Trenton” by John Trumbull depicts Wahington in his full military uniform, a blue coat over gold waistcoat and pants. He holds a spyglass in his right hand and a sword in his left gloved hand. Behind him is Blueskin, his light-colored horse, restrained by a groom.

The large full-length portrait was painted in 1792 and shows Washington at Trenton, New Jersey, on the night of January 2, 1777, this was the night after the Battle of the Assunpink Creek.

The background shows the bridge over the Assunpink Creek and nearby mill, along with artillery and campfires. The next day saw Washinton win a decisive victory at the Battle of Princeton.

Battle of the Assunpink Creek

The Battle of the Assunpink Creek, also known as the Second Battle of Trenton, was a battle between American and British troops in and around Trenton, New Jersey, on January 2, 1777.

The battle resulted in an American victory, which followed the American victory at the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776.

Washington expected a strong British counterattack, and he decided to meet this attack in Trenton and established a defensive position south of the Assunpink Creek.

Cornwallis advanced on Trenton with about 5,000 men. After assaulting the American positions three times and being repulsed each time, Cornwallis decided to wait and finish the battle the next day.

However, that night, Washington moved his army and attacked the British at Princeton the next day. That defeat prompted the British to withdraw from most of New Jersey for the winter.

Battle of Princeton

The Battle of Princeton was fought near Princeton, New Jersey, on January 3, 1777, and ending in a victory for the Americans.

Following a surprise attack at Trenton on December 26, 1776, General George Washington, crossed the Delaware River back into New Jersey on December 30,

Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops in Princeton. Washington advanced to Princeton by a back road, where he attacked this smaller British force but had to retreat before Cornwallis arrived with reinforcements.

The battles of Trenton and Princeton were a boost to the morale of the patriot cause, leading many recruits to join the Continental Army in the spring.

General George Washington at Trenton

Title: General George Washington at Trenton
Artist: John Trumbull
Year: 1792
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: Height: 92.5 in (234.9 cm); Width: 63 in (160 cm)
Category: History Painting, American Art
Museum: Yale University Art Gallery

General George Washington by John Trumbull

“General George Washington at Trenton” by John Trumbull was commissioned by Charleston, South Carolina, but it was rejected by the city, resulting in Trumbull painting another version. However, Trumbull considered this portrait.

“the best certainly of those which I painted.”

The portrait is now exhibited at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut.

For Charleston, Trumbull painted a similar, but a different version, entitled “Washington at the City of Charleston.” The revised portrait was set at Charleston, with the city in the background, the Cooper River and boats in the middle ground, and local plants in the foreground.

Washington holds a hat in his left hand, resting on his sword while holding a walking stick with his right hand. The painting is now on view in the Charleston City Hall.

“Washington at the City of Charleston” by John Trumbull, 1792

Trumbull also painted a much smaller version entitled “George Washington before the Battle of Trenton,” c. 1792–94. It is similar to the original, but with changes in the background and the bay horse’s color. It is exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 1794, Trumbull went to London and made a small version of this portrait and later supervised its engraving. Since then, several other engraving versions had been made.

John Trumbull

John Trumbull (1756–1843) was born in Connecticut, the son of the governor. After graduating from Harvard University, he served in the Continental Army under General Washington.

He then studied painting with Benjamin West in London and focused on history painting. Trumbull painted many scenes from the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings.

His painting “Declaration of Independence” was used on the commemorative bicentennial two-dollar bill. Trumbull also incorporated the actual likeness of his subjects into his depiction of historical paintings.

“George Washington before the Battle of Trenton” by John Trumbull

“George Washington before the Battle of Trenton” by John Trumbull – Metropolitan Museum of Art

George Washington before the Battle of Trenton

Title: George Washington before the Battle of Trenton
Artist: John Trumbull
Year: 1794
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: Height: 26.5 in (67.3 cm); Width: 18.5 in (46.9 cm)
Category: History Painting, American Art
Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art – MET

The Battles of Trenton and Princeton

John Trumbull

Name: John Trumbull
Born: 1756 – Lebanon, Colony of Connecticut, British America
Died: 1843 (aged 87) – New York, New York, U.S.
Nationality: American
Notable works:
- John Adams
- The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776
- Alexander Hamilton
- Self-Portrait
- The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker’s Hill, June 17, 1775
- Declaration of Independence
- Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
- The Death of General Montgomery in the Attack on Quebec, December 31, 1775
- Surrender of General Burgoyne
- General George Washington at Trenton
- George Washington before the Battle of Trenton
- Washington at the City of Charleston

General George Washington at Trenton

A Tour of History Paintings

“Washington Crossing the Delaware” by Emanuel Leutze
“The Family of Darius before Alexander” by Paolo Veronese
“Las Meninas” or “The Ladies-in-Waiting” by Diego Velázquez
“The Third of May 1808″ by Francisco Goya
The Second of May 1808 – The Charge of the Mamelukes by Francisco de Goya
“The Fighting Temeraire” by Joseph Mallord William Turner
“Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way” by Emanuel Leutze
“The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776″ by John Trumbull
“The March to Valley Forge” by William B. T. Trego
“The Massacre at Chios” by Eugène Delacroix
“The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche

General George Washington – The Crossing

Cromwell in Battle of Naseby” by Charles Landseer
“The Surrender of Breda” by Diego Velázquez
“Hannibal and his Army Crossing the Alps” by J. M. W. Turner
“The Death of Marat” by Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli after Jacques-Louis David
“Oath of the Horatii” by Jacques-Louis David
“The Coronation of Napoleon” by Jacques-Louis David
“The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons by J. M. W. Turner
“The Burning of the Houses of Parliament” by J. M. W. Turner
“The Triumph of Cleopatra” by William Etty
“Dempsey and Firpo” by George Bellows
Floreat Etona! by Elizabeth Thompson
Scotland Forever! by Elizabeth Thompson
“Surrender of Lord Cornwallis” by John Trumbull

General George Washington at Trenton

The 10 Days That Changed The World, Washington’s Crossing the Delaware

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“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.”
– George Washington

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Photo Credit: 1)John Trumbull, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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