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 Smithsonian Associates speaker Paul Glenshaw for a special ART+HISTORY program exploring John Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence.
Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence is an icon of American history reprinted millions of times in textbooks, commemorative posters, two-dollar bills, and much more.
But is the painting accurate? What happened on July 4, 1776, and what event does the painting purport to show?
Like today’s movies “based on a true story,” Trumbull arranged the characters for maximum dramatic effect. The painting’s history is also a surprise: the composition was conceived by Trumbull with Thomas Jefferson’s direct influence.
Additionally, the painting was begun in Paris – part of a commercial scheme that failed miserably – with the mural-size version in the United States Capitol Rotunda completed almost 40 years after the original smaller painting was begun.
Through close visual analysis and rich historical context, Glenshaw presents two narratives in tandem: the story of the Declaration of Independence and the events preceding and directly after July 4th, 1776 – and how those events ultimately intersected with the multifaceted career of John Trumbull, a soldier, artist, and diplomat, who was on a first-name basis with the founders of the country.
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. A suggested donation of $25 helps cover program costs.
Register here or the form on this page.
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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.