The artwork “General George Washington Resigning his Commission,” created by John Trumbull between 1817 and 1824, is an oil on canvas painting that belongs to the Neoclassicism art movement. This historical painting, measuring 365.76 x 548.64 cm, is displayed in the United States Capitol, Washington, DC, US.
In the artwork, George Washington is depicted standing in the center of a room filled with dignitaries, as he formally resigns his commission as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Washington stands resolutely, extending a document towards a seated figure, likely a representative of the Continental Congress, symbolizing the relinquishment of his military power. The room is grandly designed with classical architectural elements, such as columns and a high ceiling. To Washington’s side, officers and other figures stand solemnly, observing the momentous occasion, while spectators look on from a balcony. The painting captures the solemnity and significance of the moment with meticulous detail and reverence, characteristic of Trumbull’s style and the Neoclassical movement’s admiration for historical and moral themes.
