Who painted the 1819 artwork commonly titled Declaration of Independence?

John Trumbull painted the 1819 artwork commonly titled Declaration of Independence.

The painting depicts the Committee of Five presenting its draft document to the Second Continental Congress. Trumbull’s composition is often mistaken for a literal record of the signing, but it primarily represents the presentation of the draft on June 28, 1776.

The scene includes 42 figures, while the completed Declaration eventually had 56 signers. Trumbull used portraits and other visual references to identify many delegates, although not every person shown was present in exactly that arrangement.

The painting became widely recognized after Congress commissioned it for the United States Capitol. Its image also appears on the reverse of the U.S. two-dollar bill.