Trumbull was not only painting religious scenes with West, however. Trumbull always had an inflated sense of self-importance and during this time in England, he also completed the painting of a full-length portrait of George Washington overlooking a bluff. Then, when the painting was completed, contracted to make prints to sell to fund relief for American soldiers who were being held as prisoners on British ships.
This painting of Washington became so popular that it began showing up in prints across Europe, in Belgium books, French history publications and Irish magazines. This same portrait even became part of a scenic toile design called, “America Presenting at the Altar of Liberty” for wallpaper and bed hangings.
This would be the work that Trumbull was engaged in, when calamity fell. A series of unfortunate events transpired. In the middle of the night, English officers came to Trumbull’s door. They were looking for his roommate, who presumably was still out on the town. Finding only Trumbull at home, the officers began searching the residence. Eventually, with no other suspect in hand, they arrested Trumbull on suspicion of being an American spy. That first night in jail was a rough one for Trumbull, as he was made to share a bed with a recently arrested highwayman. Newspapers were ablaze of the accounts of an American spy in London. One newspaper described Trumbull as a ‘genteel looking man, about thirty-five years of age (he was actually twenty-four)” and that Trumbull had” behaved much like a gentlemen” and had “made no attempt to escape.” The next morning, Trumbull made his views clear, “Treat me as you please, always remembering, that as I may be treated, so will your friends in America [British Prisoners of War] be treated by mine.” This veiled threat did the trick and Trumbull’s situation improved while incarcerated. In America, Major John Andre had just been hanged, a compatriot of Bendict Arnold, and it is likely that Trumbull’s arrest as a spy in England was done in retaliation.
