''The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar'' (also called ''The Sortie made by the Garrison of Gibraltar in the Morning of the 27 of November 1781'') is a 1789 oil-on-canvas painting by

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

artist

John Trumbull John Trumbull (June 6, 1756November 10, 1843) was an American artist of the early independence period, notable for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Rev ...

. The painting shows a key point in

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

's history when the

Great Siege of Gibraltar The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the War of the American Revolution. It was the largest battle in the war by number of combatants. The American war had end ...

was undertaken by the Spanish against the British at Gibraltar in November 1781. The Spanish officer Don Jose de Barboza is being given respect as he lies dying. Although left behind by his own retreating troops, he still unsuccessfully attacked the British troops with chivalry.

Background

The painting is based on a historic battle that took place in

on November 27, 1781. The

was an unsuccessful attempt by

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

to capture Gibraltar from the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

during the

War of American Independence The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

Painting

The painting depicts the events of the night of November 26, 1781, when British troops made a sudden attack (

sortie A sortie (from the French word meaning ''exit'' or from Latin root ''surgere'' meaning to "rise up") is a deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops, from a strongpoint. The term originated in siege warfare. ...

) against the enemy batteries. The death of the Spanish officer Don Jose de Barboza is the focal point of the painting. He fell mortally wounded and died near his post refusing assistance after having been abandoned by his troops. He is portrayed as rejecting the aid of General George Eliott, commander of the British troops. In 1782, the siege was lifted, and Trumbull's friend Antonio de Poggi, an artist and dealer based in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

who had been in the besieged garrison, told him of an earlier incident, which had occurred in November 1781. This had all the ingredients he sought: 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: Trumbull labored on the composition, over many sketches and three large completed canvases. As the project progressed, Trumbull's ambitions for it to be his big breakthrough to major patronage grew too. He refused large offers for the picture, preferring to exhibit it privately for admission fees.

Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford Horatio Walpole (), 4th Earl of Orford (24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English writer, art historian, man of letters, antiquarian, and Whig politician. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twicke ...

had called the painting: The painting is depicted on the back of the 2010 Gibraltar 10-pound note. The people highlighted in this composition are the dying

José de Barboza Don José de Barboza (1700s-November 27, 1781) was an officer of the Kingdom of Spain.Holger Hoock ''Empires of the Imagination: Politics, War, and the Arts in the British World, 1750-1850'' (9781861978592) 2010 Page 114 "It shows the Spanish off ...

and to his right and from left to right: Ensign A?. Mackenzie (in Highland dress), Governor Eliott, Lt G.F. Koehler, Lt.Col J. Hardy, Brig. Gen C. Ross, Capt A. Witham, Capt Roger Curtis, Lieutent

Thomas Trigge General Sir Thomas Trigge (c. 1742 – 11 January 1814) was a British army officer who began his career in 1759 during the Seven Years' War, as an ensign in the 12th Regiment of Foot. He remained with the regiment for the next 36 years, and co ...

, Lt Colonel Hugo.

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, The 1789 paintings Paintings about the American Revolution Paintings in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Paintings by John Trumbull 1781 in Gibraltar