Trumbull's Declaration of Independence signing scene painting has been depicted several times on United States currency and postage stamps. The painting was pictured on an 1869 United States 24-cent definitive postage stamp There were 14 signers of the Declaration who did not appear in the painting: Clinton was not present at the signing of the Declaration.) Although Charles Thomson was one of two members listed by name in the earlier Dunlap Broadside as having attested to the Declaration, and many historians believe he had signed the original document that was lost. ( Note: - Not a signer of the final Declaration of Independence but depicted in painting. Two foreground figures at the central table: Two figures standing in the right corner of the room: Robert Morris (first on the left at the table)įive figures standing in front (the Committee of Five):įour background figures seated together near the right corner of the room: Set of three figures standing together in the back: Three seated figures in the back between the two sets of standing figures: Seated together to the right of Harrison and in front of the standing figures:įive figures standing together on the left: Key to figures (in each group, listed from left to right): government publication 'Art of the Capitol' (in the illustration of the key shown in this section) but provides a different (hopefully clearer) description of which figure is where in the painting, so numbers are not entirely in order. The key to the 47 figures in the painting follows the numbering used by the U.S. This is not depicted in all versions, most notably the one seen on the two-dollar bill. On the farthest wall hangs a display of trumpets, drum, and regimental colours captured from British regiments. This part of the image was correctly depicted on the two-dollar bill version. As the Declaration was debated and signed over a period of time when membership in Congress changed, the men featured in the painting never were in the same room at the same time.Īlthough Thomas Jefferson appears to be stepping on John Adams' shoe in the painting, which many thought symbolized their relationship as friendly rivals, upon closer examination it can be seen that their feet are merely close together. Similarly, Trumbull painted Rufus Hopkins, who resembled his father Stephen Hopkins, for whom no portrait was available. Trumbull had no portrait of Benjamin Harrison V to work with, but his son Benjamin Harrison VI was said to resemble his father, so Trumbull painted him instead. He also depicted several participants in the debate who did not sign the document, including John Dickinson, who declined to sign.

The painting shows 42 of the 56 signers of the Declaration Trumbull originally intended to include all 56 signers but was unable to obtain likenesses for all of them. The painting shows the five-man drafting committee presenting their draft of the Declaration to the Congress, an event that took place on June 28, 1776, and not its signing, which took place mainly on August 2. The painting is sometimes incorrectly described as depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The oil-on-canvas work was commissioned in 1817, purchased in 1819, and placed in the United States Capitol rotunda in 1826. Trumbull painted many of the figures in the picture from life, and visited Independence Hall to depict the chamber where the Second Continental Congress met. It was based on a much smaller version of the same scene, presently held by the Yale University Art Gallery. 1818 painting by John Trumbull Declaration of Independenceĭeclaration of Independence is a 12-by-18-foot (3.7 by 5.5 m) oil-on-canvas painting by the American artist John Trumbull depicting the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress.

Declaration of independence picture