Artistic Response to War Project: “The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar”

The artwork “Sortie made by the Garrison of Gibraltar” is an oil-on-canvas painting by the American Artist John Trumbull (1756-1843) in 1789. The current owner is the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, (metmuseum.org)

Figure 1 Image from Met. Museum

            The painting by Trumbull is a war response as it depicts courage in war, a desirable quality for soldiers. Don Jose de Barboza is the center of interest, a tragic hero abandoned by his soldiers after an attack by British soldiers.  Though in pain and dying, Barboza is shown with his hand raised and waving away an enemy British commander, General George Eliott. In his agony, his demeanor shows a man determined to die without betraying his cause by accepting the help he considers unworthy. His face is turned away and the expression on it is unclear, dulled by the blackness of his coat and that of the surrounding shadows. The picture created for Barboza is that of impending death which contrasts in comparison to the clean, healthy, and brightly-dressed British soldiers whose faces and expressions show contentment and generosity. To attack an enemy army all alone challenging, and so is the courage to refuse help when you need it most. It is these two characteristics displayed by Barboza that portray the Spanish in defeat. If war is won, the win is deserved. If not, the vanquished should retain their honor. Soldiers in war expect to win though this does not always occur. Those whose conviction cannot allow them to give up must, therefore, retain consistency. The ability to withstand betrayal, fight, and remain strong despite little chance of success indicates a strength of character that every leader is supposed to have in order to inspire those under them.

            The ability to see beyond the present can be observed in black and white color as used in this painting and it brings into focus the expected conduct of leaders in war. Trumbull paints a greater portion of the image with blackness, yet a bright light illuminates the upper left. General Eliott and senior soldiers are seen brightly lit on the front in a manner that assigns them a higher level of responsibility in comparison those under them who are lit from the back as they face away from the light source. Such intense contrast symbolizes the leadership challenge bestowed on leaders which highlights the need for maturity and respect towards junior officers and defeated opponents. Strong leaders have to a be bright light. As demonstrated by General Eliott and his officers, good leadership entails focus, good intuition and decisions making that are intended to achieve best outcomes. Responsible leaders, therefore, have an obligation to balance winning with other qualities that make them stand out in relation to those they command or vanquish. The ability to make good leadership choices is a quality that made Generall Eliott be successful in this and other assignments.

            Another clear value in the painting is that of patriotism and nobility as seen through dressing depicted by both the British commanders and Spanish soldier. The painting shows Barboza fully clothed in the military fatigues of his country and so is Eliott and his men. The British commanders are seen in their black headgear, red coat, white trousers and shirt, red belt and black boots. Trumbull in this image thus redefines patriotism even in war. Barboza can be distinguished from the British by way of his red top and trousers, and black jacket. A patriot is an individual loyal and proud of their country by any measure.  The strength of character seen in Barboza and Eliott can thus be linked to the uniform they are dressed in. The British however further demonstrate nobility through their offer of help. To them, the military uniform is not just a symbol of power but also a mark of integrity that anyone who wears it is expected to honor.

            It may seem easy to assume that “The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar” is simply war history. A closer inspection of the painting reveals a deeper message. John Trumbull’s work responds to the need for strength of character, leadership, and patriotism even in war to promote achievement desirable personal and military objectives.  

Work Cited

metmuseum.org. "The Sortie Made By The Garrison Of Gibraltar". The Met, 2018, https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12828?sortBy=Relevance&ft=art+of+war&offset=0&rpp=20&pos=18. Accessed 29 Mar 2018.