ART+HISTORY: Trumbull's Declaration of Independence
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 | 7:00 PM ET | Online Event
In anticipation of America’s 250th anniversary, the French-American Cultural Foundation welcomes popular lecturer and storyteller Paul Glenshaw for a special Art+History program exploring John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence.
Familiar to millions through reproductions, textbooks, and the back of the two-dollar bill, Trumbull’s painting has become one of the defining images of the American founding. Yet the scene it presents is more layered – and more carefully constructed – than many realize. Rather than depicting the signing of the Declaration on July 4, 1776, the painting captures the presentation of the draft declaration to Congress, bringing together figures who were never all in the room at the same time.
Why did Trumbull choose this moment? What story was he trying to tell about the new nation?
Created in the early nineteenth century, decades after the Revolution itself, the painting reflects not only the events of 1776, but also the political ideals, anxieties, and ambitions of the young republic that followed.
Through close visual analysis and rich historical context, Paul Glenshaw will guide audiences through the individuals portrayed in the canvas, the symbolism embedded within the composition, and the broader cultural moment that transformed the American Revolution into national mythology.
As with all programs in the Art+History series, this lecture places art within the lived realities of its time – connecting painting, politics, memory, and identity in ways that continue to resonate today. Join us just weeks before July 4th for an engaging exploration of one of America’s most enduring national images and the complicated history behind it.
To celebrate 250 years of America, this event is being offered on a “pay what you can” scale to encourage wider participation in this timely conversation. A suggested donation of $25 helps cover program costs and supports the time and expertise of our featured lecturer.
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About Paul Glenshaw
Paul Glenshaw’s career covers several disciplines, all fueling the same goal: storytelling. In addition to being a longtime lecturer, drawing instructor, and tour leader, he is a documentary filmmaker and practicing artist.
Art+History is his long-running popular lecture series initially created for the Smithsonian Associates and has been presented in person and online to public and private groups around the country. His documentaries The Lafayette Escadrille, Anacostia Delta, and Barnstorming are all streaming on the PBS Passport platform. He has a special interest in French-American history and is working with Dr. Iris de Rode and Humanus Documentary Films to create En Route for Revolution, based on Dr. de Rode’s research. He is an expert in the history of early aviation and was a longtime contributor to Air & Space Smithsonian magazine. His articles have appeared in publications as diverse as Racquet magazine and the Folger Library’s Shakespeare and Beyond blog. He began his career at the National Gallery of Art, selling postcards in the bookstore. A lifetime resident of the Washington, DC area, he is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis.