John Trumbull painted Declaration of Independence, the famous founding-era artwork displayed in the America250 story.
Trumbull began the painting in the late 1810s, decades after the Declaration of Independence was adopted. The large oil painting depicts the Committee of Five presenting the draft Declaration to the Second Continental Congress, rather than showing all 56 signers gathered for the document’s later signing.
The scene is based partly on Trumbull’s historical research and partly on artistic composition. Only 42 figures appear in the painting, and not every person depicted was present in the room on the exact day represented. Trumbull used portraits, memories, and other evidence to portray many of the participants.
The painting is often mistaken for a literal group portrait of the signing. Its title refers to the presentation of the draft, and its dramatic arrangement helped make it one of the best-known visual symbols of the founding era commemorated during America250.