Painting, "The Surrender of Santa Anna" by William Henry Huddle
Mexican general accepts defeat, ending the Texas Revolution victoriously
The mighty Texas Revolution ended with one disguise-wearing general surrendering to one wounded general stretched out under a tree. Or so it's depicted in this painting, which is based on historical accounts.
On April 21, 1836, in the wake of the defeats at the Alamo and Goliad, Texas soldiers assembled a surprise attack on Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna and the Mexican Army. Led by Texas General Sam Houston, the victory at the Battle of San Jacinto concluded the Texas Revolution. This oil-on-canvas work, The Surrender of Santa Anna, by artist William Henry Huddle, depicts the morning after—April 22, 1836. The defeated Santa Anna, dressed in the white pants of a private, is brought to the wounded and reclining General Houston. Other important historical figures shown in the painting include the famous Texas scout Erastus "Deaf" Smith (bottom right with rifle), Secretary of War Thomas Jefferson Rusk (leaning against tree), and Colonel Mirabeau B. Lamar (behind Rusk), who later became the second president of the Republic of Texas.
The original painting hangs at the Texas Capitol.
Lender
Texas State Preservation Board, Capitol Historical Artifact Collection, Austin
About
Artworks
95" Height X 137.5" Width X 7.5" Depth with frame
Time Period: 1866 - 1936
Display Status
This artifact is not on view.
