NARRATIVE: President Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) was the main author of the "Declaration of Independence." In truth, none of the Founding Fathers of the newly formed United States wanted the job. The main Congressional Committee members passed the work to Jefferson, who reluctantly accepted after his close friend, John Adams, urged him. Adams cited Jefferson's abilities to be graceful and eloquent with the written word, and he was schooled in moral philosophy.

Congress endorsed the sweeping declaration of natural rights written by Jefferson, which were not generally accepted principles at the time of the document signing on July 4, 1776. A Philadelphia printer produced copies as broadsides which were quickly distributed throughout the colonies to the delight of the people.

In my painting, I've included a portion of the only unedited writing attributed solely to Jefferson. For a balanced design, I couldn't include the full paragraph, but the remainder of it goes on to state, "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

My favorite Jefferson quote is, "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are the only safe depositories." Jefferson's legacy has endured public scrutiny in modern times, but I am confident that history and truth have prevailed. Say what you will about this imperfect man, but "let he who is without sin cast the first stone." I have studied Jefferson's life and made up my mind that we as a country and a people owe this Founding Father a debt of gratitude for moving a nation forward as he articulated profoundly the natural rights endowed to us by a Creator. And these shall not be removed, changed our nullified.

(NOTE: A copy of "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power" written by Pulitzer Prize winning author Jon Mecham, with an inscribed message by JoAnn Peralta, will be given to the buyer of this painting.)