The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar
| The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | John Trumbull |
| Year | 1789 |
| Medium | Oil-on-canvas |
| Dimensions | 180.3 cm × 271.8 cm (71 in × 107 in) |
| Location | Metropolitan Museum of Art,New York |
The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar(also calledThe Sortie made by the Garrison of Gibraltar in the Morning of the 27 of November 1781[1]) is a 1789oil-on-canvas paintingbyAmericanartistJohn Trumbull.The painting shows a key point inGibraltar's history when theGreat Siege of Gibraltarwas undertaken by the Spanish against the British at Gibraltar in November 1781.[2]The Spanish officerDon Jose de Barbozais being given respect as he lies dying. Although left behind by his own retreating troops, he still unsuccessfully attacked the British troops with chivalry.[2]
Background
[edit]The painting is based on a historic battle that took place inGibraltaron November 27, 1781.[3]TheGreat Siege of Gibraltarwas an unsuccessful attempt bySpainandFranceto capture Gibraltar from theBritishduring theWar of American Independence.
Painting
[edit]
The painting depicts the events of the night 26 November 1781, when theBritish Armygarrison inGibraltarmade a suddensortieagainst Spanish artillery batteries during theGreat Siege of Gibraltar.[4]The death ofSpanish ArmyofficerJosé de Barbozais the focal point of the painting.[4]He fell mortally wounded and died near his post, refusing assistance after having been abandoned by his troops.[4]He is portrayed as rejecting the aid of GeneralGeorge Eliott,commander of the British garrison in Gibraltar.[4]In 1782, the siege was lifted, and Trumbull's friend Antonio de Poggi, an artist and dealer based inLondonwho had been in the besieged garrison, told him of an earlier incident, which had occurred in November 1781.[5] This had all the ingredients he sought:
...the Heroism of the vanquished, the Humanity of the Victors - the darkness of night illuminating an extensive conflagration - the Hurry and Tumult of the troops busy in the work of destruction - the quiet & calm of the Officers, the guiding Spirits of the Scene.[5]
Furthermore, Trumbull had been engaged in a series of paintings based on the American Revolution, which had been criticized in London. He saw the subject of the Siege as one which he could demonstrate that he supported British heroism as well:
...and as I knew by painting them [his American history paintings], I had given offense to some extra-patriotic people in England, I now resolved to exert my utmost talent upon the Gibraltar, to show that noble and generous actions, by whomsoever performed, were the objects to whose celebration I meant to devote myself.[6]
Trumbull labored on the composition, over many sketches and three large completed canvases.[5]As the project progressed, Trumbull's ambitions for it to be his big breakthrough to major patronage grew too.[5]He refused large offers for the picture, preferring to exhibit it privately for admission fees.[5]
Horace Walpolecalled the painting:
the finest picture [he] had ever seen painted on the northern side of the Alps.[5]
The painting is depicted on the back of the 2010 Gibraltar 10-pound note.[7]The prominent individuals highlighted in this composition are the dying Barboza and to his right, from left to right:George Mackenzie,Eliott,George Koehler,Roger CurtisandThomas Trigge.[8]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^"The Sortie made by the Garrison of Gibraltar in the Morning of the 27 of November 1781".Natural Maritime Museum.Retrieved2007-08-06.
- ^ab"The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, 1789".Acquired Tastes-Trumbull. Archived fromthe originalon 2007-09-28.Retrieved2007-08-06.
- ^Bond, pages. 28-29
- ^abcd"John Trumbull - The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar 1789".Art Museum Images from Cartography Associates.Retrieved2007-08-06.
- ^abcdef"The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar in the Morning of the 27 of November 1781".AntiQbook.Retrieved2007-08-06.
- ^Trumbull, John (1970).The Autobiography of Colonel John Trumbull.Da Capo Press. p. 149.
- ^"P-36".
- ^Courcelle, René Chartrand. Illustrated by Patrice (2006).Gibraltar 1779 - 1783: the great siege([Online-Ausg.] ed.). Oxford: Osprey. p. 52.ISBN1841769770.
References
[edit]
- Bond, Peter (2003). "Gibraltar's Finest Hour The Great Siege 1779-1783".300 Years of British Gibraltar 1704-2004(1st ed.). Gibraltar: Peter-Tan Publishing Co. pp. 28–29.
