PHILADELPHIA, PA.- Without the benefit of photography, the Revolutionary War can be difficult to envision. But what did the war actually look like? The Museum of the American Revolution’s special exhibition Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War brings together – for the first time in public – more than 45 original paintings by nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani. Based on painstaking research, the paintings capture the drama and reality of life on the march, in camp, and in battle. The exhibition runs until September 5, 2022.

Connecticut-based artist Don Troiani (b.1949) has dedicated much of his artistic career to imagining and recreating what the Revolutionary War truly looked like. His use of primary sources, archaeology, original artifacts, and other research methods imbues his paintings with an almost photographic-quality realism. Using a masterful combination of “artistry and accuracy” (New York Times), Troiani’s paintings demonstrate his extraordinary combination of historical research, technical skill, and artistic drama. Liberty is the first major exhibition of his original artwork.

“We are thrilled to be able to present this exhibition of the extraordinary, research-based works of Don Troiani,” said Matthew Skic, Curator of Exhibitions for the Museum. “Troiani’s paintings capture the raw emotions of the women and men caught up in war, allowing us an authentic and dramatic glimpse into the past and helping us grasp the human struggle of the American Revolution. The exhibition continues the Museum’s ongoing effort to make the compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events of the American Revolution real for modern-day audiences.”

The special exhibition pairs Troiani’s works of art with artifacts that inspired or appear in his paintings and illuminate the story of each scene. The 40 objects on display include weapons, military equipment, textiles, manuscripts, and more, which are on loan from Troiani’s personal collection, the Museum’s collection, and other lenders. Through these pairings, the exhibition plunges visitors into some of the most pivotal moments of America’s fight for independence, from the Battles of Lexington and Concord to the victory at Yorktown.

Visitors will encounter rare objects such as a bear-fur cap worn by a British Army grenadier, pieces of the Hessian flags that General Washington’s army captured at the Battle of Trenton, and a rifle made in 1775 by Moravian gunsmith Christian Oerter of Pennsylvania. The exhibit also features an original copy of Paul Revere’s famous engraving of the Boston Massacre, on loan from the Dietrich American Foundation. Revere’s engraving is being displayed next to Troiani’s 2017 painting of the Boston Massacre.

“It is my hope that my paintings help people today grasp the significance of the Revolutionary struggles of the people who lived 250 years ago, whose brave actions continue to shape our lives,” said Don Troiani. “I cannot think of a better institution than the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia to partner with to publicly display, for the first time, my original paintings of the Revolutionary War.”

Featured in the exhibition is Troiani’s recent painting, “Brave Men as Ever Fought,” commissioned by the Museum and funded by the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail of the National Park Service. This painting captures the moment when 15-year-old African American sailor and Philadelphian James Forten witnesses Black and Native American troops in the ranks of the Continental Army as they marched past Independence Hall on their way to eventual victory at Yorktown. Forten later called those soldiers “as brave Men as ever fought.”

As part of the Museum’s commitment to accessibility, the exhibition includes raised tactile images of three of Troiani’s paintings for use by guests with visual disabilities, created and donated by Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired, as well as replica handling objects.