The years thereafter were active ones for Trumbull. He produced many portraits of celebrated men, and many historic paintings that still hold leading places in the national art of America. In 1794 Trumbull acted as secretary to John Jay in London during the negotiations for the treaty between America and Great Britain. He was a man of prominence in public life, a leader in art in both England and America. He was president of the American Academy of Fine Arts from 1816 until 1825, and he died in New York, November 10, 1843. PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION ILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 1. No. 45, SERIAL No. 45 COPYRIGHT, 1913, BY THE MENTOR ASSOCIATION [Illustration: SPANISH GIRL, BY WASHINGTON ALLSTON--METROPOLITAN MUSEUM, N. Y.] _MAKERS OF AMERICAN ART_ _Washington Allston_ SIX The standard bearer of the group of young artists who studied under Benjamin West was Washington Allston. Although several years of Allston’s active life were spent in England, he was a native American, and was born in the Waccamaw region of South Carolina in 1779. Allston’s father married twice, and the painter was the son of the second wife. His father died when Allston was only two years old, and when he was seven his mother married Dr. Henry C. Flagg of Newport, who was chief of the medical staff of General Greene’s army. Allston as a boy showed unusual ability for drawing, and he was fortunate in finding in Newport two friends to assist and encourage him. In particular there was a boy named Malbone, two years his senior, who was already beginning to paint miniatures, and in after years became known as Edward G. Malbone, a famous painter of portraits. The friendship with Malbone had much influence on Allston’s nature. They remained good friends through life, and gave to each other and took from each other the riches of sympathy and understanding that lie in an art kinship. At college Allston showed himself a genuine boy, full of animal spirits. He joined in college pranks, and got the most that college life could give in fun and friendship. He was in short a radiant young man, graceful, handsome, with blue eyes, silky black hair, and pale, clear complexion. He was liked and honored by all his fellow students, cordial to all, yet with a certain aristocratic distinction that marked him as one of finer nature. He loved not art alone, but literature and romance. His verses were creditable, and brought him the honor of being elected class poet.