Skip to Main Content

Inside the Capitol: John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence| BRIdge from the Past

What does Trumbull’s painting of the Declaration of Independence tell us about the Founding moment and the connection between law and liberty? In this episode of BRIdge from the Past, Mary examines the prominent painting of the Declaration of Independence displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Commissioned by Congress in 1817, artist John Trumbull was tasked with depicting the crucial moment in American history when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress. What goals did Trumbull hope to accomplish with this painting? Why was this moment in history chosen to be depicted in the U.S. Capitol?


Related Resources