Trumbull John - The Declaration of Independence Art Print

An archival premium Quality Art Print of the Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull for sale by Brandywine General Store. This giant 12 foot by 18 foot canvas is in the United States Capitol Rotunda and depicts the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress. The oil on canvas was commissioned in 1817, purchased by Congress in 1819 and placed in the Rotunda in 1826. The artist painted many of these people from real life and he also visited Independence Hall, the setting of this painting. The artist portrays 42 of the original 56 signers of the document, the other 14 he could find no portraits or likenesses to draw from. There was also no portrait of Benjamin Harrison V, however his son was said to strongly resemble his father, so Benjamin Harrison VI was painted in place of his father. Trumbull spiced up the interior of Independence Hall with fancy mahogany Empire armchairs, rich draperies and other items because he feared the overseas countries would not take the United States seriously if he depicted the rooms as they actually were, bare and with humble colonial furnishings. The man with the hat is most likely John Dickinson of PA who was a Quaker and pacifist and refused to sign the Declaration of Independence, historians have theorized the artist, who was a strong patriot, showed Mr. Dickinson with his hat to portray him as a rude individual. This scene never actually took place, due to the remoteness of the new Country and Congress changing all the time, these representatives were never all in the same room at the same time. Nevertheless this is one of the most famous off all the American Paintings in existence. Trumbull also included four people who were present but refused to sign the document and these were George Clinton, Livingston of New York, Thomas Willing of Philadelphia and John Charles Thomson. The artist probably thought for history's sake these people opposing should also be included. In the central group of men are Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, he is shown placing the document before John Hancock, President of the Congress. Around Jefferson stand the other memebers of the committee that created the draft namely, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Benjamin Franklin. Of course there have been all kinds of conspiracy theories surrounding the fact of why some people were included that shouldn't have been in the picture and why some who should have been included were left out. Famous people art print #32