A  Rising  Sun - The Miracle of the Constitution

    The title of this series of paintings is derived from a quote from Benjamin Franklin made at the time of the Constitution’s signing. After the lengthy Constitutional Convention of 1787,  the colonial delegates approached to sign their draft of the Constitution. As the last members were signing Franklin looked towards George Washington’s chair, at back of which a rising sun happened to be painted. He said, “I have often and often in the course of the session. . . looked at that behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting: But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun.” The rising of the sun brings with it the birth of a new day with its. Symbolizing the birth of a great nation, each of the five paintings capture the rising sun of a new day.
    Although each painting is true to historic details, the series follows in the early great American landscape painting tradition. License was taken to romanticize and dramatize the architectural landscapes. The resulting larger-than-life “feel” is intended to match the grandeur of the Constitution. As much as dramatic works of art, the series emphasizes and symbolizes the Miracle of the Constitution. Using elements within each painting, a painterly poem weaves the story of the Constitution’s origin and fulfillment. The purpose of these paintings is to instill renewed appreciation and commitment to original constitutional principles and to those who participated in its drafting.
This series was commissioned by the law firm of Siegfried and Jensen located in Salt Lake City, Utah. These large scale originals are now open for public viewing in the building of Siegfried and Jensen. Hide