200 Declaration of Independence.. 



Art. XXIL Notice of Colonel TrumbulVs Picture of the 

 Declaration of Independence. 



XT is proper that some mention of this great national work 

 should be made, in publications less transient than newspa- 

 pers ; and as the fine arts are included within the design of 

 this Journal, it may with propriety be noticed here. This 

 is the grec^test work which the art of painting has ever pro- 

 duced in the United States. The picture is magnificent both 

 in size and in execution. The dimensions of the canvass are 

 eighteen feet by twelve. 



" This picture forms one of a series long since meditated by 

 Mr. Trumbull, in which it was intended to represent the most 

 important events, civil and military, of the American revolu- 

 tion, with portraits of the most distinguished actors in the 

 various scenes. The materials for this purpose were col- 

 lected many years ago, and two plates have been engraved 

 from paintings of the deaths of Gen. Warren and Gen. Mont- 

 gomery ;* but the work was suspended, in consequence of the 

 pohtical convulsions, which, during twenty-five years, were 

 so fatal to the arts of peace. 



" The government of the United States have ordered four 

 of the subjects originally proposed by Mr. Trumbull, to be 

 painted by him, and to be deposited in the capitol. 



" No event in human history ever shed a more salutary in- 

 fluence over the destinies of so great a mass of mankind : the 

 wisdom of no political act was ever so soon and so powerfully 

 demonstrated, by such magnificent consequences. And justly 

 may the nation be proud of the act itself; and of those eminent 

 men, its authors, whose patriotism (rising above enthusiasm, 

 and the passions which have so often bewildered mankind) was 

 calm, dignified, persevering, and always under the guidance of 

 reason and virtue. 



* These pictures, as is well kaowu, represent the assault.on Quebec, and th« 

 battle of Buukci-^s Hi!!. 



