Jim Butcher (American, B. 1944) "Signing of the Declaration of Independence" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Canvas.
Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.
This painting originally appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 18c Yorktown & Lexington/Concord stamp issues of October 16, 1981.
The Second Continental Congress, preparing for that historic day when independence would be voted, appointed a committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. The noble task fell on Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. Because the resolution for independence had been introduced in the name of Virginia, it was only proper that a Virginian should author the Declaration, and the committee thus chose Jefferson to be its creator. Jefferson retired to his rented flat at the corner of Seventh and Market Streets where he spent the next two weeks producing his "expression of the American mind." The finished document was presented to the Congress on June 28, 1776. On July 2, the Congress edited, revised, and thus reduced the 1800-word draft of the Declaration of Independence by one-fourth. Finally, on July 4, 1776, Congress unanimously adopted the improved version of the Declaration. Contrary to popular belief, the document that conceived a new nation was not actually signed until August 2 after it was engrossed on parchment.
Image Size: 16 x 16 in.
Overall Size: 20 x 19.75 in.
Unframed. (B07283)
Condition
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