The Declaration of Independence, Philadelphia, July 4, 1776. Mezzotint by H.S. Sadd after J. Trumbull.

The painting shows the signing of the Declaration of Independence in what was later called Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on July 4, 1776. Members of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence--John Adams, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson (presenting the document), and Benjamin Franklin--stand before John Hancock, the President of the Continental Congress. The painting includes portraits of 42 of the 56 signers and 5 other patriots. The artist sketched the individuals and the room from life (information from the Capitol website, 4 July 2005)