<Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> 3.7 m × 5.5 m (12 ft × 18 ft) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Location </Th> <Td> U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., U.S. </Td> </Tr> <P> Declaration of Independence is a 12 - by - 18 - foot (3.7 by 5.5 m) oil - on - canvas painting by American John Trumbull depicting the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to Congress . It was based on a much smaller version of the same scene, presently held by the Yale University Art Gallery . Trumbull painted many of the figures in the picture from life, and visited Independence Hall to depict the chamber where the Second Continental Congress met . The oil - on - canvas work was commissioned in 1817, purchased in 1819, and placed in the United States Capitol rotunda in 1826 . </P> <P> The painting is sometimes incorrectly described as the signing of the Declaration of Independence . The painting shows the five - man drafting committee presenting their draft of the Declaration to the Congress, an event that took place on June 28, 1776, and not the signing of the document, which took place later . </P>

Who painted the signing of the declaration of independence