FREE ESSAY ON GOVERNMENTAL LAW

GOVERNMENTAL LAW

During the end the 18th century, American art not only helped fuel the fire for
independence, it preserved those days of struggle as an empirical foundation for future
generations of Americans. Examples of paintings of the revolution abound. Etchings by
American Hero Paul Revere stirred America's will to fight, while paintings by John
Trumbell helped preserve the events and people that lead America to its independence.
Although using different genres, each artist painted from a similar perspective, that of
staunch Patriotism. Yet, there are two sides to any conflict, and one must take both
sides perspectives into account. It is important to remember that history is often
subjectively portrayed with many inherent biases. 
Propoganda and war go hand and hand. The object is to make a cause seem "just" or
"righteous" while making the opposing side seem as if they are spawned from the root of
all evil. Propagandized material often results in exaggerations or blatant mistruths.
This is the case prior to the onset of the Revolutionary War. Paul Revere's etching of
the Boston Massacre is a perfect example of how art can be used to sway public opinion.
The etching's iconography describes British redcoats firing on well-dressed men and women
peacefully protesting England's taxation without representation. Colonials lie dying and
bleeding as the British continue to fire with smug demeanors. As the authors Robert
Devine, T.H. Breen, George M. Fredrickson, and R. Hal Williams wrote: "In subsequent
editions, the blood spurting from the dying Americans became more conspicuous."(Divine,
Breen, Fredrickson, and Williams: 137) The etching became a bestseller and spurred
intense reaction among colonials. The British, confronted with the possibility of a mass
armed revolt, were forced to move their army to an island in Boston Harbor. The etching
became a symbol to the colonial Americans of British tyranny and fueled their desire to
revolt. (Divine, Breen, Fredrickson, and Williams)
Examples of art works showing the British perspective of the conflict are practically
non-existent. It is possible the war was of little significance to the British, or if it
was, after losing they were not going to admit it. Another theory is that few people
commissioned artwork from a lost conflict. It was something to be forgotten not
glorified. One example of British propaganda from before the revolution is the etching
titled, The Bostonians Paying the Excise Man(1774) by an unknown artist. The etching's
iconography entails "unruly colonists forcing a tax collector they had tarred and
feathered to drink scalding tea."(World Book: 277) This is taking place directly in front
of a tree labeled "liberty tree" with a poster of the stamp act turned upside down. From
a branch of the tree hangs a rope used for hanging and in the background to the far left
colonists are depicted dumping British overboard.
The etching, The Bostonian Paying the Excise Man, is an obvious tool of British
propaganda in reaction to The Boston Tea Party. The etching portrays the colonists as a
group of rogue unreasonable anarchists. The Stamp Act poster on the tree labeled "liberty
tree" represents how the British were reasonable with the colonists when they repealed
the Stamp Act. While the rope hanging from the tree is meant to condemn the colonists
actions and questions whether the dumping of tea was an act of liberty or a prevention of
other's liberty. The theme focuses on the reasonable British versus the unreasonable
Americans.
Fine Art was seen by many to be superfluous at a time when they believed a practical
approach was needed to expand the new nation. As a result of this reasoning, fine art had
difficulty establishing itself in the colonies. (Koja: 55) Thomas Jefferson, in 1788,
wrote that painting was too expensive for this new nation and was therefore useless and
unnecessary. He believed, although art was worth looking at, it was not worth studying.
As late as 1817, President John Adams wrote, "is it possible to enlist the 'fine arts' on
the side of truth, of virtue, of piety, or even honor? From the dawn of history they have
been prostituted to the service of superstition and despotism."(Koja:55)
The sentiment following the war forced artists such as John Trumbell to document the
nation's young history and prevent it from ever being forgotten. Trumbell wrote to
Jefferson in 1879:
"The greatest motives I had...for continuing my pursuit of painting has been the wish of
commemorating the great events of our country's revolution. I am fully aware that the
profession practiced is frivolous, little useful to society, and unworthy of man who has
talents for more serious pursuits. But, to preserve and diffuse the memory of the noblest
series of actions which ever presented themselves to the history of man;...[and to
preserve] the personal resemblance of those who have been the great actors in those
illustrious scenes, were objects which gave a dignity to the profession, peculiar to my
situation." (Koja:55) 
Trumbell transcended the current mentality, grasping the importance of the events of the
revolution and their relevance to future generations. 
John Trumbell was born in 1756, the son of the governor of Connecticut, with a seemingly
innate urge to paint. He served as an aid to George Washington during the revolution.
This conflict would become inspiration and subject of his greatest work. After the war he
realized that the current environment in America did not provide him the opportunity to
hone his skills. Trumbell then moved to London in 1785, to study under his compatriot
Benjamin West, who had moved to England years before and had achieved great success. Upon
his return to America in 1789, Trumbell turned to painting the story of the American
Revolution. Trumbell set out to create a series of fourteen pictures, each depicting
major events of the Revolutionary War. (Richardson:78) 
Trumbell's paintings, The Battle of Bunker Hill and The of General Montgomery in the
Attack on Quebec, reflect Baroque influences. His use of color and portrayal of movement
is very reminiscent of Peter Paul Rubens. Both of these works were completed in 1786 and
have similar themes. Each depict decisive turns in the war, which were brought on by the
deaths of key figures. The iconography of Montgomery describes the moment of General
Montgomery's death and its result, the collapse of the plan and an eventual retreat. The
enemy is entering the scene as the Patriots watch their commander die before their own
eyes. Trumbell's The Battle of Bunker Hill depicts the moment when the patriots ran out
of ammunition, which allowed the British to take the hill. As the British take the hill,
General Warren is shot through the head by a musket ball. Warren's friend, Colonel Small,
grabs the musket of a British soldier prepared to deliver Warren's coupe de grace. All
around these men stand patriots, maintaining futile resistance with their empty guns. In
the center of the action is General Putnum who, with reluctance, orders the patriots
retreat. (Silverman:466)
The two paintings both follow the traditional form of history painting. They 
both envelope a theme of self-sacrifice for a greater good. These paintings both seem to
have Christian overtones. Both Montgomery and Warren are depicted as Christ-like figures,
where Jesus' body is depicted lifeless and drooping. Trumbell also used Baroque diagonal
lines and chiaroscuro for the relative contrasting of light and dark as well as to create
spatial depth and volumetric forms. Trumbell was also in touch with the developing
romantic sense of nature as portrayed in his backgrounds. Trumbell used nature as a
correlative to action, with his use of blasted trees and lowering smokey-gray
skies.(Silverman:467) Trumbell balanced his attention to detail, many times using actual
participants as models for his works, and the desire for grandeur.(Silverman:466)
Art played a significant role in the both provoking and documenting the Revolutionary
War. The etching by Paul Revere of the Boston Massacre is an example of how art impacts a
society. Its impact before the war was one of spurring outrage against the British. More
importantly, it represents the foundation of America. We are a nation of free speech and
personal freedom; a people who will rise up and defeat any power which oppresses these
freedoms. The etching depicts the first Americans to die for these ideals.
The paintings of Trumbell have preserved the Revolution for the future generations of
Americans. They allow for Americans to see their founding fathers in action. History
portrayed through merely words can often times be dry and boring. The paintings of
Trumbell and other Revolutionary War artists breathe life into the revolution. The visual
depictions allow for the audience to see history as not just a collection of names and
dates, but as actual faces. These were people, just like you and me, who rose up against
a perceived tyrant, fought for liberty and won. The pride instilled from our past
inspires many Americans to fight on for continued liberty and freedom.