Painting Patriotism, Healing Wounds: The Art of Col. John Trumbull with Walter W. Woodward

This program is part of our year-long celebration of 'America 250,' the Semiquincentennial of our country's founding.  

The American artist John Trumbull is often remembered as the painter of the American Revolution and the man who captured artistically the most iconic images of nation’s founding period.

Much of our sense of how the revolutionary period and the founding fathers looked comes from the drawn-from-life images Trumbull went to great pains to create, whose originals line the walls of places such as the Capitol rotunda in Washington and engravings of which are found on our currency. Yet the road to fame was a difficult one for Trumbull. At a time when artists were looked upon as mere skilled workers, he fought for both status and respect, especially from his father, Governor Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut. 

This richly illustrated talk discusses the lifelong struggle of John Trumbull to earn respect for his art by painting what he told Thomas Jefferson were some of the “noblest series of actions which have ever presented themselves in the history of man.” It’s a Connecticut family story about a talented son and a demanding father, one that made a very lasting impression on the American memory.

About Walter W. Woodward

Walter W. Woodward is Connecticut State Historian emeritus, having served as State Historian and as a member of the University of Connecticut History Department from 2004 to 2022. A scholar of Early American and Atlantic World history with a focus on Connecticut and New England, he is the author of five books, including Creating Connecticut: Critical Moments That Shaped a Great State and the award-winning Prospero’s America. 

Woodward holds a Ph.D. with distinction from UConn and previously taught at Dickinson College. Before his academic career, he worked in the music and advertising industries, earning two Emmy Awards and eight Clio Awards. He continues to research, write, perform, and lecture through projects such as Today in Connecticut History and musical performances with The Band of Steady Habits.

The President's Series

Welcome to the President's Series —an engaging collection of special events hosted by Darien Library in collaboration with the President of the Board and members of the Library Board of Trustees.

On July 4, 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This act, which formally separated the 13 colonies from British rule, shook and reshaped the world. The “American experiment” rested on the revolutionary idea that legitimate government rests on the consent of the governed. Independence did not come easily or without grave cost. The American Revolution last seven long years, with tens of thousands of lives lost. 

Today, historians, philosophers, and people worldwide continue to study the Founding, the principles of democratic republicanism, and its evolution over the past 250 years. Darien Library joins museums, libraries, educational and cultural institutions nationwide in commemorating the semiquincentennial, known as “America 250,” through a series of public programs that celebrate American history and reflect on our nation’s continuing pursuit of a more perfect union.

We invite you to join us for this 6-part special series featuring films, history talks, folk music, and more.