Christmas Eve:
The artist John Trumbull painted a nativity scene. It was the birth of a republic.
The painting is an image of the peaceful transfer of power. George Washington, the victorious general, stood in front of the throne of power cloaked in purple. It was empty and available. He turns his back on it and returns his commission back to civilian authority.
John Trumbull describes the painting:
What a dazzling temptation was here to earthly ambition! Beloved by the military, venerated by the people, who was there to oppose the victorious chief, if he had chosen to retain that power, which he had so long held with universal approbation? The Caesars, the Cromwells, the Napoleons, yielded to the charm of earthly ambition, and betrayed their country; but Washington aspired to loftier, imperishable glory, – to that glory which virtue alone can give, and which no power, no effort, no time, can ever take away or diminish.
Washington projected virtue. He was unselfish. Americans honored that. This became part of the usable history of our country.
And after Washington died they had him drawn and quartered.