Washington Resigning his Commission by John Trumbull Art Print

An archival premium Quality Art Print of General Washington Resigning his Commission by John Trumbull for sale by Brandywine General Store. The artist finished this very large oil on canvas in the year 1826 with the size of the original artwork being 12 feet by 18 feet. This early American Historical painting is now in the Rotunda at the United States Capitol Building in Washington DC. The scene portrays the happenings on December 23, 1783 in the Maryland State House in Annapolis when George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army. The action was important for establishing civilian authority over the military, a fundamental principle of American democracy.

Washington is illuminated by the light falling into the room, he stands in uniform before the president of the Continental Congress, Thomas Mifflin and the delegates, among whom is Thomas Jefferson. Behind Washington are his aides-de-camp, Colonel Benjamin Walker and Colonel David Humphreys and other various spectators. This was the last of the four paintings that John Trumbull created under his 1817 commission from the US Congress. To depict accurately the figures in the painting, Trumbull copied miniatures he had painted previously, studied portraits by fellow artists and contacted members of Congress for portraits of the delegates. James Madison, Martha Washington and her grandchildren are shown in the gallery, but they were not actually at this historical event. Famous people art print #69