Architecture is not the only art style that contributes to myth and memory making within the capital building. The rotunda has paintings that depict the United States history to tell the myth and memory of early America. The names of Trumbull’s paintings were; “The Surrender of General Burgoyne at Saratoga”, “The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown”, “The Declaration of Independence”, and “The Resignation of General George Washington”. These images provided the perfect opportunity to use art as a tool to create an American narrative as well as to promote patriotism (Zawadzki, 1 Nov.). Out seven images that hang in the rotunda Trumbull created four, two of them were of military scenes and two images where government related (“Historic Rotunda Paintings”). America would not exist without the military forces, fighting to separate its self-form…show more content… In the early years, America had to establish an individual identity, the way to do so was to establish a strong government. The pivotal moments that Trumbull decided to choose for his government paintings was the signing the Declaration of Independence and the resignation of George Washington. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was significant because it indicated the separation of the American Colonies from British sovereignty. This was an important step in the establishment the United States as a Country. Another step in creating the American Government system is was the resignation of George Washington. Trumbull developed a great admiration for Washington while serving under him in the Revolutionary War. Due to this Trumbull believed that when Washington resisted the chance to have the power of a king, it was “one of the highest moral lesions ever given to the world” (Cooper,
