The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776

The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776
The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776
Artist	John Trumbull
Year	1786–1828
Medium	oil on canvas
Dimensions	51.1 cm × 76.2 cm (20.125 in × 30 in)
Location	Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut

The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776 is the title of an oil painting by the American artist John Trumbull depicting the capture of the Hessian soldiers at the Battle of Trenton on the morning of Thursday, December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War. The focus is on General George Washington aiding the mortally wounded Hessian Colonel Johann Gottlieb Rall.^[1]^[2] Nearly 900 Hessians were captured at the battle.^[3] It is one of Trumbull's series of historical paintings on the war, which also includes the Declaration of Independence and The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777. The painting is on view at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut.^[4]

The artist intended to show the compassion of General George Washington in this painting, as he wrote in the catalogue for his exhibited works at Yale University in 1835:

The magnanimous kindness displayed by Washington, on this occasion, offers a sublime example of true heroism, and well deserves to be imitated by all military men. The artist chose this subject, and composed the picture, for the express purpose of giving a lesson to all living and future soldiers in the service of his country, to show mercy and kindness to a fallen enemy,–their enemy no longer when wounded and in their power.
— John Trumbull^[5]

^ Cooper, Helen A. (2008). "The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776". Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-300-12289-3.
^ Cite error: The named reference artstor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Fischer, David Hackett (2006). "The Surprise". Washington's Crossing. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 254. ISBN 0-19-517034-2. The Americans captured 896 officers and men, including the wounded
^ "The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777". Yale University Art Gallery.
^ Trumbull, John (1835). "No. 11.–Capture of the Hessians at Trenton–December 26, 1776". Catalogue of Paintings, by Colonel Trumbull; Including Eight Subjects of the American Revolution, with Near Two Hundred and Fifty Portraits of Persons Distinguished in That Important Period. Painted by Him from the Life. Gallery of Yale College. pp. 16–18.

[yale-1] Cooper, Helen A. (2008). "The Capture of the Hessians at Trenton, December 26, 1776". Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: American Art from the Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-0-300-12289-3.

[artstor-2] Cite error: The named reference artstor was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] Fischer, David Hackett (2006). "The Surprise". Washington's Crossing. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 254. ISBN 0-19-517034-2. The Americans captured 896 officers and men, including the wounded

[4] "The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton, January 3, 1777". Yale University Art Gallery.

[trumbull-5] Trumbull, John (1835). "No. 11.–Capture of the Hessians at Trenton–December 26, 1776". Catalogue of Paintings, by Colonel Trumbull; Including Eight Subjects of the American Revolution, with Near Two Hundred and Fifty Portraits of Persons Distinguished in That Important Period. Painted by Him from the Life. Gallery of Yale College. pp. 16–18.

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