'Turnback Tuesday' celebrates Declaration of Independence

Turnback Tuesday celebrates our nation's independence. This post card is a copy of the famous painting done by the American artist John Trumbull.

A smaller version (20” x 31”) was done in approximately 1786 depicting the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence. This painting is at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven. In 1817 Trumbull was commissioned to paint a total of four large paintings.

This 12’ x 18’ painting was presented to the public on October 5, 1818 along with the other three. The painting shows 42 of the 56 signers with many of the figures being painted from life.

In 1826 the painting with the three other works of John Trumbull were placed in the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. where they can still be admired today.

Thanks goes to Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting history each week.