Painter

Mather Brown

American painter, active in England; 1761—1831.

John Singleton Copley

American painter, principally active in London after 1774; 1738—1815.

Charles Willson Peale

American painter, soldier; created first American museum; 1741—1827.

Rembrandt Peale

American painter, son of Charles Willson Peale; 1778—1860.

Gilbert Stuart

American painter of quintessential portraits, including George Washington; 1755—1828.

Thomas Sully

British-born painter, mainly of portraits, extended the iconography of the Revolution and the Founding Fathers into the 19th century; 1783—1872.

John Trumbull

American artist, soldier at the Battle of Trenton; 1756—1843.

John Vanderlyn

American artist, worked in Philadelphia under Gilbert Stuart, protégé of Aaron Burr; 1775—1852.

Benjamin West

American-born painter who moved to England in 1763; 1738—1820.

The Continental soldier often had to provide his own eating utensils, but on occasion they came as standard issue. Maryland troops, for example, were provided a wooden trencher (plate), and bowl, as well as wooden and pewter spoons. Each man would have his knife, of course; and for quaffing his rum, cider, beer, or whiskey, a horn cup, which was extremely light compared with pewter or ceramic. Officers, as might be expected, had more refined utensils. George Washington’s mess kit, for example, was a very elaborate affair housed in a handsome fourteen-compartment wood chest lined with green wool.

— Michael Stephenson

Patriot Battles: How the War of Independence Was Fought (2007)