Joshua at the Battle of Ai – Attended by Death 1839 - 1840

John Trumbull's "Joshua at the Battle of Ai – Attended by Death," painted between 1839 and 1840, depicts a scene from the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament. The painting features the biblical figure of Joshua battling the Amorites in the city of Ai while Death, personified as a skeletal figure, oversees the carnage. With a focus on the moment of battle, the painting emphasizes the violence and chaos of war, contrasting the heroic bravery of Joshua with the inevitability of death. The artwork is a powerful example of Trumbull's dramatic style, with its vivid use of color and dramatic composition.