Called “the painter of the American Revolution,” John Trumbull was one of the greatest American painters of portraits and historical paintings, including Declaration of Independence, which appears on the reverse of the $2 bill and is one of four of Trumbull’s paintings that hang in the United States Capitol rotunda. But the artist was also a patriot who served as a colonel in the Continental Army, briefly as an aide to Washington, and later to Generals Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates. This lecture will fill in an important gap in the existing literature of the American Revolution, revealing, through Trumbull’s portraits, the many contributions of General Washington’s unsung heroes who helped win a war and establish a new nation.

Damien Cregeau has a bachelor’s degree in history from Hillsdale College and a master’s in history from Colorado State University. A nationally recognized scholar of the American Revolution, he has taught art history and lectured throughout the United States. Damien has been published in numerous journals and magazines, including Military History Quarterly, the Journal of the American Revolution, and Financial History magazine. He published his first book, Portraits of Patriots, in 2025. In 2021 Damien received the History Award from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Curt DiCamillo is American Ancestors' Curator of Fine Art. As part of the Education team, he curates American Ancestors' large art collection, lectures around the world, and hosts the celebrated American Ancestors Art & Architecture webinar series.