By the mid-1780s, artist John Trumbull was planning an ambitious series of paintings portraying pivotal moments of the American Revolution. Among the pictures planned for this group was a scene showing Thomas Jefferson presenting the newly drafted Declaration of Independence to the Contintental Congress. Trumbull's hope was to base as many likenesses as possible in his historic tableaux on life sittings, and in late 1787 he arrived in Paris to paint Jefferson, who was then serving as ambassador to France.

Trumbull thought exceptionally well of the resulting likeness. In addition to the original one, which he painted into a preliminary oil study for the Declaration of Independence, he made three other versions. The one here, showing Jefferson in his mid-fifties, was painted for Maria Cosway, an English miniaturist with whom Jefferson conducted an ardent and probably platonic flirtation. Upon receiving the portrait, Mrs. Cosway wrote Jefferson, "Wish me joy for I possess your Picture."

John Trumbull (1756-1843)
Oil on panel, 1788
Lent from the White House Collection
L/NPG.5.77

Enlarged image

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