Make America Bright Again
Let there be light in the symbol of America
as there was at the birth of our nation:
1782 1785
This is the only drawing of the Great Seal made by its designer, Charles Thomson. It shows how he envisioned the light breaking through the cloud surrounding the constellation of 13 stars. (It is his preliminary design with a different shield.) The first painting of the Eagle side was made 3 years later.
Both show the rays of light "breaking through a cloud,"
as Thomson specified in his written description of the Great Seal
approved by Congress on the same day he submitted it: June 20, 1782.
The bright rays of light symbolize what America experienced
during its struggle for independence, what Charles Thomson said were
"the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause."
As Secretary of the Continental Congress for 15 years, he knew well what happened.
The light rays are called a "Glory" and are usually golden colored. This important symbol was first suggested by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Late on the afternoon of July 4, 1776, these esteemed authors of the Declaration of Independence were appointed "to bring in a device for a seal for the United States of America." Six weeks later, the official description of the design they submitted said:
"The Eye of Providence in a radiant Triangle whose
Glory extends over the Shield and beyond the Figures."
The official form of a Great Seal is its written description. No artwork
was submitted in 1776, but now it's time to see this symbol of America that
our most esteemed Founders wanted. Their clear call for liberty, justice, and unity
resonates strongly today. This digital artwork is just a first attempt. (See what's needed.)
Four symbolic elements of this first committee's design are in
the final Great Seal: E Pluribus Unum • 1776 • Eye • Glory
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"I am mortified beyond expression when I view the clouds
which have spread over the brightest morn
that ever dawned upon any Country."
– George Washington (1786)
1792
Thomas Jefferson helped design this Diplomatic Medal
that also accurately shows light "breaking through a cloud"
around the Constellation of 13 stars that Thomson said symbolizes
"a new State taking its place and rank among other sovereign powers."
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President Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address, 1801:
"The essential principles of our government... form the bright constellation, which has gone before us and guided our steps through an age of revolution and reformation... Should we wander from them in moments of error or of alarm, let us hasten to retrace our steps, and to regain the road which alone leads to peace, liberty and safety."
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Masi Treaty-Seal of 1825
The Glory is the only symbol on both sides of the final Great Seal approved six years later in 1782. On the reverse side is "an Eye in a triangle surrounded with a glory" in the zenith of a "pyramid unfinished."
In 1882, for the 100th anniversary of the Great Seal,
the U.S. mint created the government's most accurate Great Seal:
1882
For the U.S. Bicentennial, John MacArthur commissioned popular commercial artists Terry Lamb and Rance Barela to create full-color realizations of the reverse side of the Great Seal with its two Latin mottoes translated into English:
1975 1976
Reload page to watch the Great Seal form a more perfect union.
Light Unites the Two Sides of America
In the spring of 2001, Americana artist Doris Sjogren Rowe and
John worked together to create the United Seal of America:
2001
At a time of deep division since the Supreme Court decided the 2000 election,
we sent a decal of the United Seal to all U.S. Senators, along with:
Now we seek common ground, hopefully higher ground
where we share the vision our ancestors bequeathed to us.
Symbolically, America has always had two sides,
ever since the Founding Fathers created
their symbolic mission statement,
our nation's Great Seal.
If its two sides
can unite so beautifully,
then there's hope for us all.
In 2004, John commissioned and worked with wildlife artist Cy Hundley
to create this first-ever realization of Charles Thomson's vision of the
eagle side of the Great Seal – based on his written description and
preliminary sketch of an "American Eagle on the wing & rising":
1782 2004
The light shines in the State Department's
realization of the reverse side:
But in its realization of front side, the rays of light are blocked by the clouds –
including in the die impressed on international documents signed by the President:
2020: Vision Requires Light.
