Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War

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Using a masterful combination of “artistry and accuracy” (New York Times),nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani has dedicated much of his career to transforming the modern understanding of what the Revolutionary War truly looked like. His research-based paintings capture the reality and drama of crucial moments such as the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, General Washington’s daring 1776 attack on Trenton, and the American and French victory at Yorktown in 1781.

Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War, the book that serves as catalog for the exhibit of Troiani’s work at the Museum of the American Revolution, highlights the most pivotal events of America’s fight for independence and reveals Troiani’s research-based artistic process. For the first time in a museum, this special exhibition brings together over forty of Troiani’s original Revolutionary War paintings and pairs them with forty artifacts from his personal collection, that of the Museum, and several private collectors.

From the Publisher

“I want to document the great scenes of American history

for the privilege of living here. It is something I can leave behind as a teaching tool.”—Don Troiani

The American Revolutionary War has been underrepresented in fine art.

Avowedly not a partisan or fan of any particular group in the conflict, Troiani shows an exceptional commitment to depicting not just the American side of the conflict, but also the British and German forces and their Native American allies. His works press us to question the accuracy of many familiar images of the American Revolution. Troiani’s depictions of these same events suggest the role of politics and wishful thinking in the more familiar versions. Since its opening in 2017, the Museum of the American Revolution has been committed to a similar idea of patriotism and history. As the Museum’s literature states, “a more diverse story is a more accurate story.”

Stories from all sides of the Revolutionary War

A Soldier of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment, 1777

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John Brooks, the 8th Massachusetts Regiment fought at both Freeman’s Farm and Bemus Heights. Many soldiers of the regiment wore linen hunting shirts issued for the campaign and carried newly imported French muskets. They participated in the attack on Breymann’s Redoubt on October 7.

Hesse-Hanau Artillery Dummer 1781, Parade Dress

This drummer of African descent wears a white linen summer dress uniform and “turban” as a member of the Hesse-Hanau Artillery. Three Black men, who may have escaped from slavery in search of their freedom, served as drummers in the Hesse-Hanau Artillery. Other Hessian and Brunswick regiments that served in America added drummers of African descent to their rolls.

53rd Regiment of Foot Private, 1777

The 53rd Regiment’s light infantry company surrendered at Saratoga on October 17. This light infantryman wears a distinctive leather cap and carries a hatchet in addition to the bayonet mounted on his musket. The 53rd Regiment was one of the few British regiments that had red-colored facings.

Molly Pitcher, Battle of Monmouth, 1778

In his memoir, Continental Army veteran Joseph Plumb Martin included a description of the army’s June 1778 departure from Valley Forge: “we left our winter cantonments, crossed the Schuylkill and encamped. . . . We had lain here but a few days, when we heard that the British army had left Philadelphia and were proceeding to New York, through the Jerseys. We marched immediately in pursuit.”

Martin’s farewell to the log huts at Valley Forge was likely almost as pleasing to the then seventeen- year-old private in the 8th Connecticut Regiment as was the prospect of bloodying British General Sir Henry Clinton’s departing column. During the sixteen months before arriving at Valley Forge the prior December, Washington’s army had been, with few exceptions, consistently and humiliatingly bested. From Brooklyn Heights to Germantown, they had escaped several near-fatal encounters. Few were unaware that many British officers continued to regard the rebels as ragamuffins and country clowns, such knowledge stoking the Continentals’ smoldering desire for redemption and vengeance.

The army encountered more fuel for revenge after they crossed the Delaware into New Jersey. Such depredations as Private Martin now saw—“cattle killed and lying about the fields and pastures, . . . household furniture hacked and broken to pieces; wells filled up and . . . farmer’s tools destroyed”—all of it compounded the Revolutionaries’ animus toward their foes and refocused their thoughts upon the safety and welfare of distant families. For many married soldiers, though, the family was no farther distant than the rear of their own column. Reflecting the mode of the time, the Continental Army community included numerous wives and children of the rank and file. In addition to serving as their husbands’ helpmates, army wives also assisted with laundering, sewing, and caring for the sick and wounded, whether in camp or hospital. They typically received rations and pay for their work for the army.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stackpole Books (October 14, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0811770400
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0811770408
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.97 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 11.44 x 0.64 x 8.83 inches