The Story Behind John Trumbull’s “Declaration of Independence”
Among the many symbols of American freedom and the birth of a new nation, few are as instantly recognizable as the painting titled The Declaration of Independence. It hangs in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol, grand in scale and rich in historical legacy. But who painted this iconic image? What stories are hidden in the brushstrokes? How accurate is it really? Let’s dive deep into the life of the artist John Trumbull and the legacy of the painting that shaped the way millions visualize America’s founding moment.
Who Painted the Declaration of Independence
The man behind this celebrated painting was John Trumbull, an American artist and former soldier of the Revolutionary War. Trumbull was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1756. He was the son of Jonathan Trumbull, the colonial governor of Connecticut, and he graduated from Harvard in 1773.
Before becoming an artist, Trumbull served as an aide to General George Washington and as a deputy adjutant general to General Horatio Gates. His experiences during the American Revolutionary War gave him a profound understanding of the key figures and the monumental events that were unfolding around him. This unique proximity to history would later define his artistic vision and give his paintings a deep layer of authenticity.
It was during his time in Europe, after studying under the famous British artist Benjamin West, that Trumbull conceived the idea of creating a series of paintings depicting major events from the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence was the first of these.
The Story of John Trumbull’s “Declaration of Independence”
The painting titled The Declaration of Independence is often misunderstood as depicting the actual moment the document was signed. In truth, it shows the presentation of the draft of the Declaration to the Second Continental Congress on June 28, 1776, not the signing, which took place over several months and involved many different individuals at different times.
Trumbull began work on the painting in 1786 and continued working on it off and on for nearly a decade. His vision was to create a lasting visual record of the American Revolution’s most defining moments. In fact, he described his ambition as “preserving and commemorating the great events of our country’s history.”
To achieve authenticity, Trumbull traveled extensively to meet and sketch portraits of the living signers of the Declaration. He also relied on other artists’ works or family portraits for those who had passed away. His meticulous approach, combined with his first-hand knowledge of the Revolution, brought depth and realism to the piece.
The final version of the painting was completed in 1817, commissioned by the U.S. Congress in 1817 as part of a series of four large-scale paintings for the Capitol Rotunda. Trumbull was paid $8,000 per painting, a substantial sum at the time. He personally painted all four works.
Is the Declaration of Independence Painting Accurate
This question has intrigued art historians and scholars for generations. The answer is both yes and no.
Historically, the painting captures a key moment, the presentation of the draft Declaration by the Committee of Five: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. They are shown standing before the seated members of the Continental Congress, with Jefferson handing the document to John Hancock, the president of the Congress.
However, the scene is an idealized representation rather than a literal, historically accurate account. Not all the men shown in the painting were present at that precise moment. Trumbull included 42 of the 56 signers of the Declaration, some had died, others were not in the room at the time, and a few were not even present in Philadelphia on that date.
The painting was not meant to be a photograph of the event. Instead, it’s best viewed as a symbolic representation, an artistic interpretation that captures the spirit and significance of the moment when the idea of American independence took tangible form.
In a letter to Thomas Jefferson, Trumbull himself admitted that historical accuracy had to be sacrificed for compositional purposes. He arranged the figures in a way that best communicated the gravity and unity of the moment, rather than sticking rigidly to the real setting or attendance of June 28, 1776.
Where Is John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence Painting Now
The original Declaration of Independence painting by John Trumbull hangs in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It measures 12 feet by 18 feet and is prominently displayed alongside three other Trumbull works that depict key moments of the American Revolution:
The Surrender of General Burgoyne
The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
General George Washington Resigning His Commission
These four paintings form a visual narrative of America’s struggle for and achievement of independence. Visitors to the Capitol can view them as part of public tours, and they are some of the most photographed and referenced artworks in American political history.
Interestingly, a smaller version of the Declaration of Independence painting, also by Trumbull, hangs in Yale University Art Gallery, where Trumbull donated many of his works. Yale houses an impressive collection of Trumbull’s paintings and sketches, offering further insight into his creative process.
Who Are the Men in the Declaration of Independence Painting
The painting features 47 individuals, including 42 signers of the Declaration. Each figure was either painted from life by Trumbull or constructed from reference materials. The central group is the Committee of Five, shown presenting the document to Congress:
Thomas Jefferson (center, holding the document)
John Adams (to Jefferson’s right)
Benjamin Franklin (to Jefferson’s left)
Roger Sherman (just behind Jefferson)
Robert R. Livingston (next to Sherman)
They are approaching John Hancock, seated behind the table. Hancock is flanked by other significant members of the Continental Congress.
Some of the other notable figures include:
Samuel Adams
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
George Wythe
William Williams
Stephen Hopkins
Trumbull took great care to depict accurate facial features, often traveling across states to capture likenesses in person. His dedication to representing real individuals as faithfully as possible was part of his mission to create not just art, but history on canvas.
How Much Is John Trumbull’s Painting “Declaration of Independence”
When Congress commissioned the original painting in 1817, Trumbull was paid $8,000, a significant sum at the time, equivalent to over $150,000 today when adjusted for inflation.
However, determining the monetary value of the painting today is more complex.
Because the original painting is a national treasure and part of the permanent collection of the U.S. Capitol, it is essentially priceless. It has never been, and likely never will be, for sale. The value is more historical and symbolic than commercial.
That said, Trumbull created several smaller replicas of the painting, and these have occasionally entered the private market. One such version, considered the “study” for the Capitol piece, resides at Yale. If a Trumbull original were to go to auction today, art experts suggest it could be worth millions, depending on condition, provenance, and size.
Even prints and engravings based on Trumbull’s painting have significant value. The most widely circulated image of the painting is found on the reverse side of the U.S. $2 bill, albeit in a simplified form. This helped cement the painting’s place in American cultural consciousness.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence has become more than just a painting, it’s an enduring icon of American identity. It has been reproduced in textbooks, currency, posters, and media. For many, it forms the visual foundation of how they understand the drama and significance of the American founding.
But the painting is also a window into the evolving American narrative. In the 19th and 20th centuries, it symbolized unity, progress, and patriotic pride. In recent years, it has sparked more nuanced conversations about the incomplete vision of liberty it represented at the time, where women, Indigenous peoples, and enslaved individuals were excluded from the freedom being declared.
Still, as a piece of historical art, Trumbull’s painting continues to invite awe and contemplation. It reminds us that behind every grand idea is a room full of human beings, flawed, ambitious, courageous, trying to bring that idea to life.
John Trumbull’s The Declaration of Independence is a national heirloom, a storytelling masterpiece, and a monument to democratic ideals. Trumbull’s dedication to historical accuracy, even while taking artistic liberties, gives us a visual legacy that continues to inspire and educate more than two centuries later.
The next time you see the painting, whether in the Capitol, in a textbook, or on a $2 bill, look closely at the faces. Behind each one is a story, and thanks to Trumbull’s vision, those stories continue to live on.
