A couple of years after Col. John Trumbull’s service in the American Revolution, which ended spectacularly with his resignation. In a letter written to his superior he said with pride and some impudence, “From this day, therefore, I lay aside my cockade and sword, with the fixed determination never to resume them until I can do it with honor,” because he had received his commission to colonel later than expected. After some time with his family and also in Boston, Trumbull would travel to Paris where he spent time with Benjamin Franklin, then a diplomat to France. Franklin was an important friend to have, for had many connections. Fifty years Trumbull’s senior, Franklin was able to make introductions to smooth Trumbull’s way. This was especially helpful with Trumbull’s return to painting because Franklin knew Benjamin West and was able to arrange an introduction through a letter.
London was full of prominent artists whom Trumbull admired, such as Sir Joshua Reynolds and John Singleton Copley, John’s first mentor. It must have been a heady feeling for John to be nearly running in the same circles as the accomplished painters. When Trumbull met West, he was asked if he had brought any samples of his work, which might have been smart to do, but he had not. West then asked him to look around the studio and copy something that he saw. Trumbull chose to paint a copy of the famous painting by Raphael of a seated Madonna. This painting, the original pictured below, was a good choice for its artistic merit and Trumbull must have done a good job because West accepted him as a student. Trumbull was to study under Benjamin West working closely with another student painter from America, Gilbert Stuart. Trumbull painted Benjamin Franklin during this time in London andthe painting is pictured above. Franklin did not sit for Trumbull because he lived in Paris while Trumbull was in London. Instead, Trumbull used a 1777 French engraving of Franklin that between the fur hat and simple coat showcased Franklin’s American style, simple and nearly austere. This painting is now housed at the Yale Museum.
I have found several sources online attributing the painting below of Franklin also to Trumbull and during the same time period. Honestly, I could not find anywhere to verify this. I will continue to work on this. Of course, Trumbull did paint Benjamin Franklin in his famous Capitol Rotunda painting, “The Declaration of Independence.” Franklin stands to the side of Thomas Jefferson in this painting. Jefferson is easy to spot with his red colored vest. Franklin is to the right. It seems likely that even in 1780, Trumbull was already considering ideas for Revolutionary War paintings. Trumbull would begin his preliminary work on “The Declaration of Independence” in 1786, which is only six years later. Trumbull had always desired to be a great historical painter as is evidenced by his admiration of Copley and West. Trumbull was now on his way.
