File talk:PreliminaryTreatyOfParisPainting.jpg

Maybe not the Treaty of Paris

According to this page, the original Seiler painting was titled Der Vertrag zu Haag (The Treaty to Hague), and was made in 1893. At least, that is the title on that print. The above is possibly backed up by this book, which mentions a Seiler painting named Der Vertrag vom Haag 1785, and says the people in the image are Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adams. If that is correct, then this is the Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between His Majesty the King of Prussia, and the United States of America, signed in 1785, and ratified in 1786. If that is true, then the painting depicts a scene which didn't happen, as Jefferson, Franklin, and Adams signed the treaty separately and in different locations (they were not at the Hague). The Prussian signatory was Frederick William de Thulemeier, and was the only one at the Hague. Maybe this was the exchanging of ratifications (which was also at the Hague), though I have not researched to see if the American signatories were actually present for that. Some details on the treaty here. Carl Lindberg (talk) 04:23, 28 February 2011 (UTC)