John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings. His Declaration of Independence (1817) was used on the reverse of the two-dollar bill.
Trumbull was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1756, to Jonathan Trumbull, who was Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784, and his wife Faith Robinson Trumbull. He entered the 1771 junior class at Harvard University at age fifteen and graduated in 1773. Due to a childhood accident, Trumbull lost use of one eye, which may have influenced his detailed painting style.
Trumbull sold a series of 28 paintings and 60 miniature portraits to Yale University in 1831 for an annuity of $1,000. This is by far the largest single collection of his works. The collection was originally housed in a neoclassical art gallery designed by Trumbull on Yale's Old Campus, along with portraits by other artists.In 1794 Trumbull acted as secretary to John Jay in London during the negotiation of the treaty with Great Britain, and in 1796 he was appointed by the commissioners sent by the two countries the fifth commissioner to carry out the seventh article of the treaty.
Trumbull was appointed president of the American Academy of the Fine Arts, a position he held for nine years, from 1816 to 1825, though he did not get along with the students, and his skills declined. By 1825, his lack of support for the students led to the downfall of the Academy with the students rebelling and founding the National Academy of Design.[4] He published an autobiography in 1841.
He died in New York City at the age of 87 on November 10, 1843. He was originally interred (along with his wife) beneath the Art Gallery at Yale University that he had designed. In 1867 his collection and remains were moved to the newly built Street Hall. The Trumbull Gallery was later razed.