John Adams: [while examining John Trumbull's depiction of the Declaration of Independence presentation] You know, I, I am informed that one of the greatest talents of a painter is the capability to comprehend a large space. Herr Rubens, whose canvases I always paused to admire when I was staying in Holland, was a master of this. You, Mr. Trumbull, are no Rubens.
John Trumbull: I do not claim to be a Rubens, sir. I would, however, remind you that Herr Rubens never painted such a uniquely American subject.
John Adams: As to the painting's singularity, I can offer no opinion. But I will say this. It is very bad history.
John Trumbull: The likenesses have been very carefully researched...
John Adams: No scene such as you depict here ever took place. There was not one moment or one day when all the delegates from the Congress gathered to record their signatures.
John Trumbull: This is a matter of detail.
John Adams: May I remind you, sir, that we were already at war? Now, contrary to your tranquil scene, your subjects were scurrying in and out of Philadelphia all summer long, affixing their names to Mr. Jefferson's hallowed parchment whenever they happened to be in town.
John Trumbull: You would not deny the artist a certain license?
John Adams: Do not let our posterity be deluded with fictions under the guise of poetical or graphical license. It is a very common observation in Europe, Mr. Trumbull, that nothing is so false as modern history. Well, I would hasten to add that nothing is so false as modern European history except modern American history. In plain English, sir, I consider the true history of the American Revolution as lost. Forever.
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