Artist John Trumbull's Surrender Of Lord Cornwallis

Artist John Trumbull was commissioned January 1817 to create four monumental paintings for the capital. This painting Surrender of Lord Cornwallis was the second of these paintings he completed. In late 1820 painting Surrender of Lord Cornwallis was hung in the United States Capital. He completed a smaller version of the painting around 1828, that now hangs in the Yale University Art Gallery. In context, this paintings setting comes from Cornwallis feeling defeat was near, hoping to be rescued from the sea, however help never came. Consequently, in the next few weeks General George Washington's army's artillery bombarded Cornwallis position, that leads to the surrender of Cornwallis as depicted in the painting. In 1785 John Trumbull began to
envision this painting while “meditate seriously the subjects of national history, of events of the Revolution.” This was the main contributing factor of the painting. The connection of content and context are presented by the accuracy of the painting, as Trumbull visited with people, as well as visiting the site of the surrender to make an accurate connection. Therefore the artist communicates contextual details very well, such as General George Washington staying in the back because Cornwallis was not present during the surrender. Even if you understand very little historical context of the painting it's not difficult for the modern viewer to understand.