#02 Declaration of Independence. 
dangers, and on a principled determination to combat the one 
and to fulfil the other. 
This moral effect has been produced in the fullest and finest 
manner by this great painter ; and no true American can con, 
template this picture without gratitude to the men who, under 
God, asserted his liberties, and to the artist who has commemo- 
rated the event, and transmitted the very features and persons 
of the actors to posterity. Such efforts of the pencil tend 
powerfully also to invigorate patriotism, and to prompt the ri- 
sing generation to emulate such glorious examples. ; 
The composition and execution in this picture are in a mas- 
terly style. The grouping of so many full length portraits, in 
a scene in which there could scarcely be any action, and in 
such a manner as to dispose of them without monotony, was an 
attainment of no small difficulty. The painter could not even 
avail himself of the adventitious relief of splendid costume and 
urniture, and of magnificence or rich decorations in architec 
‘ture; for on this occasion both were characterized by an ele- 
gant simplicity only, such however as became the actors and the 
crisis. 
The composition has all the variety of which it is suscepti- 
ble; and there is also enough of it in the style of dress and of 
features, to relieve the eye from any danger of satiety. 
It is believed, that in this picture, the United States possess # 
treasure to which there is no parallel in the world. In no in 
stance within our knowledge, is there an exhibition to ap equal 
extent, of the actual portraits of an illustrious assembly, 000° 
cerned in so momentous a transaction. 
It was agreat thing to assert, in principle, the liberties of 
this country; but it was also a great thing to vindicate them "Y 
arms ; and we rejoice that Colonel Trumbull is still to proce 
under the sanction of government, to delineate other scenes, 
_ in which Washington and his illustrious American coadjutor, 
and the flower of French chivalry, were the actors. In the 
maturity of his experience, skill, and fame,—possessed * 
he is, of the portraits of most of the great men of that a 
riod, taken principally. from the life, and having been b™® 
