<P> Declaration of Independence is a 12 - by - 18 - foot ( 3.7 by 5.5 m ) oil - on - canvas painting by American John Trumbull depicting the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress . It was based on a much smaller version of the same scene , presently held by the Yale University Art Gallery . Trumbull painted many of the figures in the picture from life , and visited Independence Hall to depict the chamber where the Second Continental Congress met . The oil - on - canvas work was commissioned in 1817 , purchased in 1819 , and placed in the United States Capitol rotunda in 1826 . </P>
<P> Declaration of Independence is a 12 - by - 18 - foot ( 3.7 by 5.5 m ) oil - on - canvas painting by American John Trumbull depicting the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress . It was based on a much smaller version of the same scene , presently held by the Yale University Art Gallery . Trumbull painted many of the figures in the picture from life , and visited Independence Hall to depict the chamber where the Second Continental Congress met . The oil - on - canvas work was commissioned in 1817 , purchased in 1819 , and placed in the United States Capitol rotunda in 1826 . </P>
who painted the signing of the declaration of independence
who painted the signing of the declaration of independence
John Trumbull
John Trumbull