Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution

A book cover. A gray-haired man is portrayed from the chest up alongside white text, which reads in part GLORIOUS LESSONS.

Join us on John Trumbull’s birthday as we welcome Richard Brookhiser, a senior editor of the National Review, to talk about his latest book, Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution, which tells Trumbull’s story of acclaim and recognition, complicated by provincialism, war, a messy personal life, and, ultimately, changing fashion.

John Trumbull (1756–1843) experienced the American Revolution firsthand—he served as aid to George Washington and Horatio Gates, was shot at, and was jailed as a spy. He made it his mission to record and give visual form to the war. The Yale University Art Gallery was founded in 1832 with the intention of housing Trumbull’s paintings from the Revolution, including his iconic work The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

A book signing and reception will directly follow in the Jan and Frederick Mayer Lobby. Mark D. Mitchell, the Holcombe T. Green Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture, introduces the program. Generously sponsored by the Friends of American Arts at Yale.

Space is limited. Registration required.