John Norman
The Battle at Bunker's Hill, or The Death of General Warren

Public Domain

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Images(4)

ArtistEngraved by John NormanBritish, 1748–1817

Artistafter John Trumbull American, 1756–1843

CultureBritish

Titles

The Battle at Bunker's Hill, or The Death of General Warren

Datec. 1798–1817

Printed inBoston, Massachusetts, United States

MediumEngraving on wove paper

Dimensions19 1/2 × 29 1/2 in. (49.5 × 74.9 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Jerry E. Finger and Alexander K. McLanahan at "One Great Night in November, 2010"

Object numberB.2011.1

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionJohn Trumbull dedicated much of his career to depicting the events and "eminent men" of the American Revolution. The initial work in his national series was The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, 17 June 1775. Following completion of the oil painting, Trumbull hoped to further his reputation, not to mention his income, through the sale of engravings. In 1794 the commission was given to Johann Gotthard von Müller, who taught engraving Stuttgart. The existence of John Norman's engraving adds a fascinating dimension to the story, although there is no contemporary documentation to clarify its production. The most likely scenario is that Trumbull commissioned it, prompted by the desire to engage an American engraver for this iconic American image.
Provenance Research Ongoing Exhibition History“American Adversaries: West and Copley in a Transatlantic World,” The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, October 6, 2013–January 20, 2014.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, left: Painted by John Trumbull Eſqr.
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, center: The Battle at Bunker's Hill, or the Death of General Warren
Recto: Inscribed in printed ink, below plate, right: Engraved by J Norman
Verso, on frame: Attached write up by Philadelphia Print Shop, see images

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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