The artwork, titled “The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis,” was painted by John Trumbull between 1819 and 1820. Executed in oil, this Neoclassical history painting measures 370 x 550 cm and is housed in the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, US.
The artwork depicts a pivotal moment in American history, illustrating the surrender of British forces led by Lord Cornwallis to the American and French forces following the Siege of Yorktown in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War. Two distinct groups of soldiers are seen, representing the British on the left and the Americans on the right, standing in stately rows. Central to the composition is an exchange of ceremonial courtesy, involving officers from both sides. The American side, prominently featuring a rider holding aloft the American flag, contrasts against the somber British forces’ white flag of surrender. The backdrop is an expansive sky filled with clouds, symbolizing the conflict’s tension yet open to a brighter future ahead. This historical piece resonates with themes of victory, honor, and the transformative moment marking American independence.
