Trumbull Gallery of Paintmgs in Yale College. 217 



of art, was seen and appreciated by both. He explained to them 

 his intention of painting a series of pictures, in commemoration 

 of the principal events of the Revolution, in which should be 

 preserved, as far as possible, faithful portraits of those who had 

 been conspicuous actors in the various scenes, whether civil or 

 military, as well as accurate details of the dress, manners, arms, 

 &c. of the times ; with all which he had been familiarly ac- 

 quainted. Mr. Adams and Mr. Jefferson encouraged him in the 

 proseclition of this plan, and with their approbation the following- 

 subjects were selected : 



The Death of General Warren, at Bunker's Hill. 



The Death of General Montgomery, at Gluebec. ' - 



The Declaration of Independence. 



The Capture of the Hessians, at Trenton. 



The Death of General Mercer, at Princeton. 



The Surrender of General Burgoyne, at Saratoga. 



The Treaty with France. 



The Battle of Eutaw Springs. 



The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, at Yorktown. 



The Treaty of Peace. 



The Evacuation of New York. 



The Resignation of General Washington. 



It was intended to publish a series of engravings from these 

 pictures, and therefore a small size was adopted, suited to the use 

 of the engraver. 



Several of the compositions were immediately studied and pre- 

 pared for the future introduction of the intended portraits, particu- 

 larly the Declaration of Independence ; so that, before the two 

 great men, before named, returned to the United States, from 

 their respective embassies, their portraits were painted in the 

 work now submitted to view, (No. 9,) — the one in London, the 

 other in Paris. The portraits of the French othcers in the pic- 

 ture of the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, (No. 29,) were also 

 painted from life, in Paris, in the house of Mr. Jefferson in the 

 year 1787. 



After the present Constitution of the United States had been 

 adopted, the artist, in the autumn of 1789, returned to America, 

 to pursue his work. He found Congress assembled in New York, 

 then the seat of government ; and, having procured the portraits 

 of General Washington, and of many other distinguished charac- 



