ART I DIG: THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL

The Battle of Bunker’s Hill, June 17, 1775 by John Trumbull, 1786

yale university art gallery

The battle of bunker hill was one of the first major battles in the revolution— it occurred two months after the battles at lexington and concord, beginning the patriot siege of boston. american troops took up positions on breed’s hill that overlooked boston which lead to the british sending three thousand men to disperse the american forces and take the hill. three waves of redcoats advanced on the hill until the americans finally abandoned their positions. the conduct & morale of colonial troops at bunker hill encouraged more enlistments which, in turn, deterred more british assaults. once henry knox arrived with captured artillery from fort ticonderoga, the brits had no choice but to evacuate the city in march of 1776.

this battle was the subject of this john trumbull piece. it would become the first of a series of paintings documenting SIGNIFICANT events in the revolution. the man depicted dying was on of the last men to face the enemy when patriot troops were forced to retreat after a british overrun— his name was dr. joseph warren. He was a leader of american resistance in boston and fought at bunker hill as a private, despite having been appointed major general of the massachusetts militia days prior. some dub him the first MARTYRED hero for the cause, dying at the hands of the british. the image is reminiscent of christ being removed from the cross, highlighting the importance of the sacrifice that warren had made— surely, it’s become on of the most SIGNIFICANT pieces of art from the american revolution.