John Trumbull served as an aide to General George Washington (1732–1799) during the Revolutionary War. After leaving the army, he studied with the great American history painter Benjamin West (1738–1820), who encouraged him to paint the war scenes he had experienced. Trumbull thus conceived his “national history” series of paintings, which included The Death of General Mercer at the Battle of Princeton. Gift of Junius Spencer Morgan, Class of 1888. John Trumbull, Battle of Princeton Prints Collection, Graphic Arts Collection.

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