Born on June 6, 1756, John Trumbull became the visual chronicler of America’s founding era. His most famous painting depicts the presentation of the Declaration of Independence draft to Congress on June 28, 1776 — a scene often mistaken for the July 4 signing.
Trumbull spent years traveling to paint the Founders from life. He visited Jefferson in Paris, Adams in Quincy, and others across the young nation, capturing their likenesses with documentary precision. His work became the visual memory of the Revolution for generations.
