Letter from John Trumbull to Samuel M. Hopkins, June 1, 1818

John Trumbull worked tirelessly on his painting Declaration of Independence throughout 1818. The painting was one of four Revolutionary-era scenes commissioned by the U.S. Congress for the Capitol. In this letter to Samuel Hopkins, Trumbull apologized for his inattention to business matters and the failure to visit. Trumbull explained that his drive to complete his "picture of Independence" is "heavy work."